Coles Liquor has recognised 11 suppliers during an awards ceremony at its 2025 Supplier Forum.
The forum brought Australia’s liquor industry together at the MCG, with Lion taking the spotlight with three awards for the second year in a row: Beer Supplier of the Year, Supply Chain Partner of the Year, and E-commerce Partner of the Year.
Coles Liquor Chief Executive Claire Lauber (above) said: “We’re only as strong as our suppliers, and we’re proud to work with more 1200 supply partners that deliver drinks our customers can rely on for taste, quality and value.
“From pioneering product innovations which push the boundaries of taste, to sustainability initiatives to reduce carbon emissions, we want to recognise our suppliers for their great partnership with Coles Liquor and for continually thinking outside the box to deliver excellence for our customers.”
The winners were:
Beer Supplier of the Year: Lion
Lion won Beer Supplier of the Year for driving wins with products like XXXX Tropical and Stone & Wood Summer Pilsner, alongside successful activations such as the Heineken F1 Virtual Reality campaign and Heineken Silver New Product Development (NPD) launch.
Wine Supplier of the Year: Brown Family Wine Group
Brown Family Wine Group was recognised as Wine Supplier of the Year for their growth, innovation and strong engagement across all areas, driving the total wine category and focusing on recruitment.
Spirits Supplier of the Year: Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard won Spirits Supplier of the Year for expanding its small-format segment offerings and supporting Coles Liquor’s major campaigns, contributing to growth and strategic alignment.
RTD Supplier of the Year: Campari
Campari Group won RTD Supplier of the Year for setting the benchmark in RTD growth driven by Wild Turkey RTD and Aperol Cocktail Premix alongside the successful launch of Espolón RTD.
Small Supplier of the Year: 80 Proof
80 Proof won Small Supplier of the Year for delivering incremental sales with innovative products such as Gee Up Mixed 10 packs and Sour Puss RTD, attracting a new customer demographic.
Supply Chain Partner of the Year: Lion
Lion which took home the Supply Chain Partner of the Year for their flexibility and proactive data support during peak periods, ensuring smooth operations.
Sustainability Partner of the Year: Hill-Smith Family Estates
Hill-Smith Family Estates for Sustainability Partner of the Year for becoming the first Australian winery to achieve Gold Member status with the International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA). Its efforts in reducing carbon emissions, adopting lightweight glass packaging, and investing in renewable energy align with its net-zero goals for 2030 and 2050.
E-commerce Partner of the Year: Lion
Lion won E-commerce Partner of the Year for its strong collaboration in the online space, ensuring success through aligned strategies and execution.
Retail Media Partner of the Year: Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard won Retail Media Partner of the Year for its innovative use of Coles 360, delivering high-quality creative and omnichannel campaigns across its wine and spirits range.
Agency Partner of the Year: Medallia
Medallia as Agency Partner of the Year for their support in the Tell Liquor NPS program, providing valuable customer insights which guided key decisions.
ELB Supplier of the Year: Marisco Vineyards & Brick Lane Brewing
Marisco Vineyards & Brick Lane Brewing (dual winners) took out ELB Supplier of the Year with Marisco standing out for its commitment to delivering value for our customers and Brick Lane for its innovation in beer NPD, developing award-winning products that have driven category growth.
Product Launch of the Year: Hard Rated Lemon Lime Zero Sugar
Asahi Beverages won Product Launch of the Year for Hard Rated Lemon Lime Zero Sugar, which quickly became the No.1 NPD across Coles Liquor Group.
Swag of wins for Lion
Lion was also named National Supplier of the Year (Large) at the Independent Brands Australia (IBA) 2025 Five Star Awards on the Gold Coast this week and was awarded the Supplier of the Year Award at the recent Thirsty Camel Bottleshops Victoria Forum.
“Partnership is incredibly important to us at Lion, so we’re incredibly proud to have received multiple supplier awards from our valued partners,” Lion said.
“The awards are a testament to the incredible work of our teams and the strong relationships and collaboration they share with our national and independent retail networks.
“Thank you to our partners for the honour, and congratulations to our Lion team for your outstanding efforts. We’ll definitely cheers to that!”
From nightclub owners to top Coles supplier
Three Melbourne nightclub owners have turned a pandemic side hustle into one of Australia’s fastest-growing independent drinks companies, 80 Proof, which took out Small Supplier of the Year at Coles’ 2025 Supplier Forum.
When COVID-19 lockdowns shut their venues, George Grigoriadis, Jess Conti and Danny Grant found themselves cut off from the nightlife industry that had defined their careers. With no crowds and no income, they started small: developing a premade shot brand to sell to friends and punters once dance floors reopened.
When lockdowns hit again in 2021, they put their product on sale via a wholesale distributor to clear stock and cover living expenses.
Their quirky premixed shots went viral — and their company, 80 Proof, was born.
Fast-forward to 2025, the business now employs over 20 staff, has delivered tens of millions in sales and holds national ranging across Coles, Dan Murphy’s and Bottlemart.
Its growing portfolio includes Sour Puss, Eagle Ridge and V Vodka, alongside collaborative projects like Gee Up (with Adrian Portelli and Troy Candy) and Ugly Vodka (with Untitled Group, Australia’s biggest independent music promoter).
And the momentum isn’t stopping at Australia’s borders, with export orders rolling in from New Zealand, Sri Lanka, the South Pacific and Europe.
“We went from pouring drinks behind the bar to seeing our products on shelves nationally,” said Grant.
“What started out as survival has grown into something bigger than we ever imagined,” added Conti.
“For us, the proudest part is proving that three club owners could build something with global reach,” said Grigoriadis. “It shows that even in crisis, you can create opportunity if you back yourself.”