Metcash has announced it entered into a binding agreement on 20 June 2025 to acquire the Steve’s Liquor Warehouse group.

The family-owned business includes five retail stores in Victoria and three in Tasmania. It offers retail, wholesale, import and export divisions.

Steve’s Liquor was launched by two icons of the independent liquor industry in 2013 – Glen Skelton and Tony Leon. Leon was the driving force behind the expansion of the Dan Murphy’s business in its early days.

The business was subsequently taken over by their sons, Steve Skelton and Simon Leon, along with Shane Vella.

“When the opportunity arose to join Dad at Steve’s Liquor in 2013, I could not say yes quick enough,” Skelton told MGA Independent Retailer Magazine in 2022.  

“We have eleven stores across three states in all different shapes and sizes. We plan to continue to build on these and strive to establish Steve’s Liquor as a leading independent retailer by offering consumers a rewarding retailing experience.”

Metcash Group CEO Doug Jones announced the acquisition during a trading update on 23 June. He said the company’s liquor business enjoyed a strong market position underpinned by a healthy and confident network that was positioned for continued growth.

“In liquor, shoppers continue to value the local convenience and quality of the Independents’ offer which is supporting growth in a challenging market,” he said.

“Sales to retail and contract customers in the first seven weeks [of FY26] are against a very strong comparative period. Importantly, further market share gains were achieved in the quarter ended 31 May 2025.”

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