“We have begun winding down the wholesale liquor business with a view to exiting by December 2026. Our Wellington warehouse will cease servicing customers on September 11, while our Auckland and Christchurch warehouses will cease servicing customers on October 23,” the spokesperson said.
“Our focus now is on supporting impacted team members through the transition, including access to our Employee Assistance Programme and optional outplacement workshops. We are also engaging with suppliers and other partners on potential employment opportunities.”
Metcash will continue to operate its retail business under Allied Retail Group, which includes The Bottle-O, Liquor Centre and Merchants Liquor brands, with stores to source directly from suppliers and other wholesalers.
Tasman Liquor employed roughly 100 people across what its website described as “five low-cost distribution centres”.
Tasman Liquor was also a prominent supplier to the hospitality industry.
Records on the New Zealand Companies Register show that Tasman Liquor, with its subsidiary Napier Liquor Merchants, reported total revenue of $269 million for the year ended April 30, 2025, in its most recent financial statements, and made a net profit of $4.76m.
Tasman Liquor also paid a dividend to its immediate parent company, Australian Liquor Marketers, of $7.76m in 2025.
The company paid $8.7m to employees in 2025.
Metcash is Australia’s leading wholesale distribution and marketing company with a diversified business across food, grocery, hardware and liquor sectors.
Brands owned by the group include supermarket chains IGA and Foodland, liquor brands Cellarbrations and the Bottle-O, alongside the Australian operation of Mitre 10, which is independent of Mitre 10 New Zealand.
The group’s operations in New Zealand represent less than 5% of revenue, results and assets of the wider group, with most of its business focused on Australia.
Tom Raynel is a multimedia business journalist for the Herald, covering small business, retail and tourism.
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