Coles Group has posted first-half results with sales revenue growing 3.9 per cent across the group, despite a 0.9 per cent decline in liquor as a result of ‘cycling’ COVID 19 on-premise restrictions.

Total sales from continuing operations grew to $20.8 billion across the group, with sales revenue from Liquor outlets totalling $1.95 billion, down from $1.999 billion for the previous corresponding period.

The company said despite the slight fall in Liquor, its three-year headlines sales had grown 15.4 per cent.

It’s Liquor portfolio includes First Choice, Liquorland and Vintage Cellars.

The company announced in an investor presentation that eCommerce in Liquor had grown 287 per cent over the previous three years.

Coles Liquor has launched 16 new stores across its branded portfolio, including its first Tasmanian store, with investment in a further 128 format renewals, including 112 Black and White Liquorland brand refreshes.

Under what it has called a “differentiate and grow” strategy, Coles Liquor has increased a focus on local lines, with 520 new lines added across the portfolio.

It has also added more than 200 products under its Exclusive Liquor Brands own products, though the company recently had to recall its own brand Smithy’s Dry Lager in bottles.

Presenting a challenge for consumers under its “delivery of trusted value” promise, Coles Liquor engages a number of suppliers for the same products, including Smithy’s, with bottled versions of Smithy’s produced by Tribe Breweries for the retailer.