ALM
Alcohol distribution
ALM supplies over 15,000 hotels, liquor stores and restaurants throughout Australia, and markets three major independent retail brands across Australia: Cellarbrations, IGA Liquor and Bottle-O. ALM also supplies Thirsty Camel Bottleshops.

Overall

Owned AUS
Rating D
About the Ratings

Company Ownership

Australian Liquor Marketers Pty Ltd
AUS
Metcash Ltd
owns 100% of Australian Liquor Marketers Pty Ltd
AUS
Distribution and wholesaling
Metcash has 3 business pillars: Metcash Food & Grocery (supplier to supermarkets and convenience stores including IGA), Australian Liquor Marketers (supplier to over 12,000 liquor retailers including Cellarbrations), and Mitre 10 (hardware). Metcash distributes primarily to independently owned stores. Acquired Home Timber & Hardware Group from Woolworths in 2016.

Company Assessment

(Last updated Aug 2024)
Australian Liquor Marketers Pty Ltd
Information
ABAC signatory
This company has signed the ABAC Responsible Alcohol Marketing Code, which is designed to regulate alcohol advertising and marketing within Australia.
Source: ABAC (2021)
Alcohol - direct involvement
Directly involved in the distribution of alcohol as a core business.
Metcash Ltd
Praise
3/5 for packaging performance
This company received a packaging performance level of 3 (Advanced) in its 2024 APCO Annual Report. Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is a not-for-profit organisation leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia. Each year, APCO Members are required to submit an APCO Annual Report and Action Plan, which includes an overall performance level from 1 (Getting Started) to 5 (Beyond Best Practice).
Source: APCO (2024)
Palm oil rating - WAZA
The PalmOil Scan app, produced by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), rates companies on their commitment to sourcing sustainable palm oil. Companies are scored on their use of certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO), commitment to sourcing CSPO, on-the-ground conservation action, and membership to the RSPO. Companies can earn a rating of Excellent, Good, Poor or No Commitment. This company is rated "Good" (retrieved 18 Nov 2023).
Source: WAZA (2023)
Criticism
0.25/10 in Deforestation Scorecard
Greenpeace Australia's 2024 Deforestation Scorecard assessed how 10 of Australia's major beef buyers and producers stack up in terms of becoming deforestation-free by 2025. Australia has one of the worst rates of deforestation in the world, driven largely by the bulldozing of forests for beef cattle grazing. Metcash scored 0.25/10. "Metcash has no deforestation commitment. It scored some points for mentioning 'responsibly sourced beef' but provided no details of what this means."
0/5 for plastic use
In 2023 the Australian Marine Conservation Society and Boomerang Alliance published the Unwrapped Report, which ranked Australia's supermarket chains on plastic use. Supermarkets were audited across five categories: transparency, plastic footprint reduction, reusables, recycling and recycled, and policy. Metcash rated the worst with 0/5 stars.
Source: AMCS (2023)
High free range stocking densities
In contrast to consumer expectations and free range eggs standards across the world, the government caved to pressure from a few industrial scale egg producers and major retailers to introduce a free range eggs standard in 2017 allowing producers to pack 10,000 hens into a hectare. The CSIRO, RSPCA, Choice and many others recommend a maximum of 1,500 hens per hectare. This company uses a stocking density of 10,000 hens per hectare for its Community Co free range eggs, well in excess of consumer expectations.
Information
Renewable energy use
Greenpeace's Reenergise campaign ranks Australia's biggest electricity using companies on their commitments and actions regarding renewable energy use. This company has: not committed to powering their operations by 100% renewable electricity by 2030; not signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) to buy power from a wind or solar project; has invested in on-site solar.
Palm oil scorecard - WWF
The 2024 WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard evaluates the progress and performance of 285 major retailers and manufacturer companies, focusing on actions companies have taken to ensure their own palm oil supply chain is sustainable and free of deforestation, natural ecosystem conversion, and human rights abuse. This company failed to respond to WWF's requests for information.
Tobacco - indirect
Involved in sale of tobacco-related products as a non-core business.
Yellow rating in Canned Tuna Guide
Yellow rating in Greenpeace Canned Tuna Guide. "IGA's private labels came 7th. IGA has made big improvements to labelling and transparency in the past, but they still need to get to know their supply chain better. IGA needs to improve its sustainability and social responsibility policies. Labelling on catch method and tuna species is inconsistent across its private labels. IGA needs to improve its transparency in backing up its claims. Some IGA stores stock the worst performing brand, Greenseas, but individual store owners determine stocklines." [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Previous involvement in gambling
Between 2012 and 2015 Metcash bought five Queensland pubs, all with gambling operations, including poker machines. However by 2016 Metcash had sold all but one, The Envy Hotel in Broadbeach, which it sold in 2022.
Political donations
According to the democracyforsale.net website, this company donated $128,950 to Australia's major political parties between 2012 and 2022, as disclosed to the Australian Electoral Commision (AEC).
Employer of Choice for Gender Equality
This company is listed by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) as a Employer of Choice for Gender Equality citation holder. The citation is designed to encourage, recognise and promote active commitment to achieving gender equality in Australian workplaces.
Source: WGEA (2022)
CSR claims
This company has Corporate Social Responsibility claims on its website under the headings People & Community, Responsible Sourcing, and Environment.
Previous link to APP
In July 2011 Greenpeace revealed that IGA was buying its toilet paper from Indonesia's most notorious rainforest destroyer, Asia Pulp and Paper (APP). Metcash terminated its contract with APP shortly afterwards.
CDP Climate Change score of C
In 2023, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change score of C.
Source: CDP (2023)
Alcohol - direct involvement
Directly involved in the manufacture, distribution or sale of alcohol as a core business.
Modern Slavery disclosure quality
Human Rights Law Centre's 2022 report, "Broken Promises: Two years of corporate reporting under Australia's Modern Slavery Act", examines statements submitted to the Government's Modern Slavery Register by 92 companies sourcing from four sectors with known risks of modern slavery: garments from China, rubber gloves from Malaysia, seafood from Thailand and fresh produce from Australia. Modern slavery statements are analysed to see if they comply with the mandatory reporting requirements, identify or disclose obvious modern slavery risks, and demonstrate effective actions to address risks. This company's modern slavery disclosure statement received a rating in the 41-60% range. The average score was 44% and the highest score was 89%.
43/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 43/100 in the Food & Staples Retailing category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 21 Oct 2022). The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.

Company Details

Type:
Wholly-owned subsidiary
Revenue:
2.2 billion AUD (2021)
Subsidiaries:
Liquor Alliance Pty Ltd (67% owned)
Bottleshops
Joint venture with Metcash which operates Thirsty Camel bottleshops across Australia. All 375 stores are supplied by Metcash.

Contact Details

Address:
4 Newington Rd, Silverwater, NSW, 2128, Australia
Phone:
02 9741 7222
Website:
www.almliquor.com.au

Products / Brands

ALM
Bottle-O Liquor Stores
★ Stores are independently owned
Cellarbrations Liquor Stores
★ Stores are independently owned
Duncan's Liquor Stores
★ Stores are independently owned
IGA Liquor Liquor Stores
★ Stores are independently owned
Porters Liquor Liquor Stores
★ Stores are independently owned
Thirsty Camel Bottleshops (67% owned)
Thirsty Camel Liquor Stores
★ Stores are independently owned