Paramount Liquor launches Sessions

AUSTRALIAN-OWNED FAMILY BUSINESS, PARAMOUNT LIQUOR, HAS MADE A NAME FOR THEMSELVES AS THE LARGEST ON-PREMISE SPECIALIST WHOLESALER. THE VICTORIAN BASED BUSINESS NOW SETS ITS SIGHTS ON SERVICING THE RETAIL TRADE WITH THE SAME HIGH QUALITY STANDARDS VIA A LOCALLY FOCUSED BANNER GROUP: WITH THE HELP OF SOME EXPERIENCED INDUSTRY EXPERTS.

Paramount Liquor has announced it will launch a new locally focused banner group called Sessions. Sessions Liquor Stores will bridge the gap between on-premise service and the off-premise retail. To help them bring this to life they’ve enlisted the help of both Jon Fernandes and Fergus Collins.

Jon Fernandes has built a wealth of knowledge and experience within the Australian liquor industry over 26 years. He is a passionate retailer with a wide skill set spanning independent retailer owner/ operator to General Manager Merchandise at Australian Liquor Marketers [ALM].

Fergus Collins also brings years of considerable experience and expertise to the new business after a six-year stint as the CEO of ALM, Metcash’s liquor arm, where he ran the liquor business from 2007 to 2013.

Paramount currently has three distribution centres in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia, enabling them to provide fast and reliable service to the independent retailer trade. The expansion into off-premise comes as Paramount was greatly impacted by COVID-19 and understands the importance of business diversity.

According to Paramount Liquor Founder, Mark Rowe, “Paramount has traditionally been a 95% on-premise based business and as a result, we have been greatly affected by the COVID-19 shutdown of bars, restaurants and cafes

across Victoria, New South Wales & South Australia.”

“Post COVID-19, it is evident that we need to diversify our business into the retail channel and the best way to do this is by using our existing reputation for paramount service and bringing on experienced personnel who played a significant role in moulding the retail banner group environment that exists today.”

Jon was an integral part of the early success and growth of independent groups under IBA and launched key strategies that are still the base of independent success today.

“I am extremely pleased to be back within the liquor industry family and excited to be working with the Paramount team in retail. There is something genuine about a family owned independent wholesale business working for the success of family owned independent retailers!” said Fernandes.

Fergus led the transformation of ALM from a wholesale business to a retail and wholesale business whilst building the largest independent retail network (IBA) to dominate the second position in market share, ahead of Coles.

“Independent retailers aren’t looking for corporate slogans, they are not a chain, they value local over national and service over shareholders.”

“I’m really excited to be working with Mark, Leigh and Nathan and the whole Paramount team to bring true independence back to the independent liquor marketplace,” said Collins

“We feel that the addition of Fergus Collins and Jon Fernandes to our newly established retail banner group will provide us with the experience and expertise that we need to make this truly independent marketing group a huge success.” said Rowe.