Packaged

Our first podcast for the new year kicks-off with one of the hospitality industry’s nice guys – Danny Connolly from LION. As Danny explains the end of 2025 wrapped up with a frenetic pace, with the opening of a new Little Creatures venue in Elizabeth Quay, the unstoppable thirst for Guinness and Swan Draught and the looming re-birth of Little Creatures in Fremantle. It’s another interesting insigh...

On this edition of Packaged we speak to one of the experts from the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) on all matters around setting up your business. We go one-on-one with Brian Childs who gives great insight about knowing what's in the detail in your commercial lease, the dispute resolution service the SBDC offers and a range of other free services the government agency provides t...

On the latest edition of our popular podcast PACKAGED we speak to the head of Retail Crime at WA Police, Inspector Mark Twamley who shares insight on the new online reporting system designed for retailers to report theft and offending. As Inspector Twamley reveals nearly 12 percent of all crime is retail crime and he expects this new technology will lead to increased reports of store theft. The go...

Hear from LSA WA CEO Peter Peck on the association's call to pause taxes on the spirits industry akin to draught beer. Mr Peck has described the excise as a punishment and unrealistic!

On the latest edition of Packaged we go one on one with DrinkWise CEO Simon Strahan. Simon shares his insights on FASD, how Australia's drinking culture compares to the rest of the world and the significant steps the organisation is taking to ensure responsible drinking is part of every day life. It's another great episode on the best podcast on all things liquor in Australia!

The Liquor Stores Association of Western Australia has a new chairman in Steve Nicoloff who shares his views and insights on where the independent liquor store space is heading now and into the future. Injuries cut short a prospective international rugby career and as a result Steve turned his hand to the family business. In an open and upfront chat. Steve tells Packaged what's in store for the 30...

What do you do when a cyclone is about to hit? Can you run down to your local store and grab that last bottle of something or that carton of your favourite ale? It's a podcast of a different nature as we kick off 2025. We chat to Tayissa Sweetlove from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services who talks us through a new weather warning system for our member stores in the north-west and how to...

On the latest edition of "Packaged", Liquor Stores Association CEO Peter Peck takes stock of 2024 and has pulled no punches. In the final installment for 2024, the man affectionately known as "Pecky" talks through the ongoing battle to negotiate liquor restrictions, highlights the LSA's goals for 2025, and stresses the importance of fostering close relations with all sides of politics. As Pecky sa...

Good news for beer lovers - did you know that Western Australia accounts for 43 percent of Guinness Beer consumption across Australia? (for on tap point sales). It's an amazing story shared by Danny Connolly the WA Field Sales Director from Lion who popped into the studio for our latest episode of our popular podcast series Packaged. Danny also tells us why the iconic Swan Draught logo has re-...

What’s the most popular beer under the Carlton United Breweries  (C-U-B) banner? And what iconic retro brand is planning on making a comeback in the lead up to summer? On the latest edition of  “Packaged” we reveal all as we chat to CUB’s WA State Manager Danny Savage who talks about some new structural changes under the One Asahi banner and how they will benefit customers across the board. As Dan...

In the latest episode of our podcast series "Packaged" we uncover a range of free and low cost services available to small business owners. Did you know you can get advice around tenancy agreements and dispute resolution services courtesy of the Small Business Development Corporation. The SBDC also offers a range of services whether you're a sole trader or small business starting out...

More than three billion containers have been saved from landfill but the monumental task of ensuring 85 percent of recyclable containers gets to a refund point and is prevented from being buried in landfill continues. In the latest episode of our popular podcast series PACKAGED we catch up with  Containers for Change  CEO Tim Cusack who details the new collect service that saves you from walking o...

The Liquor Stores Association of WA and Aviso WA Insurance Brokers have joined forces to offer industry members better value for independent store owners. Aviso WA  is spearheaded by father and son team Rick and Justin Purslowe. Rick has been in the business for more than 40 years and has recently passed the baton onto young Justin who took out the young insurance broker of the year in 2023. Justi...

What started out as a passion for gin amongst five friends has now turned into a serious new player in the market. In the latest edition of our popular podcast series PACKAGED, we chat to Charlie and Regan Maas, co-founders of Papa Salt. The story starts when Regan met Australia’s own Hollywood star Margot Robbie on a film set nearly 10 years ago, and the rest as they say, is history. Tune into th...

It’s another exciting edition of the best podcast on all things liquor. On the latest episode of PACKAGED we delve deep into the roots of popular outlet Copper and Oak which this year is celebrating its 20th anniversary and can also lay claim to the WA Employee of the Year in Guy Southern. Guy has been working in the FMCG space for 25 years and it’s no surprise he won the accolade at the LSA’s Liq...

On the latest episode of our popular podcast series Packaged we chat to Dunsborough Cellars owner Geoff Davies. The store not only scooped the country liquor store of the year but also the WA store of the year at our recent  LSA Liquor Industry Awards . As you’ll hear from Geoff, Dunsborough Cellars has made significant inroads in a short space of time providing a vital service when it comes to of...

On the latest edition of our popular podcast series  PACKAGED  we chat to Ben Harris from the Shop, Distributive and Employees Association (SDA) about its campaign to toughen penalties for offenders who assault retail workers. Mr Harris (pictured below) says since during and post COVID, offences against retail staff have increased and the legislation needs to be bolstered to bring WA in line with...

Danny Connolly is the new face for Lion in Western Australia and has literally hit the ground running. After a nine year absence from his home town of Perth, Danny shares his passion for the industry, talks about juggling family life and how a backpacking trip turned to a career in liquor and hospitality. All this and more on the best podcast on all things liquor!

Diageo is a global leader across spirits and beer and prides itself on building brands that are relevant now and respected forever. Embedded within that philosophy, lies the company’s commitment to ensuring respect for alcohol and everything that it embodies. Drink IQ  is a self assessment tool which Diageo has created to help people test their knowledge of alcohol and what impact their drinking h...

It's been nearly a 100 years since Nikola Yukich planted the family's first vines in the Swan Valley after emigrating from Croatia in 1924. Since then, the family name has been linked to a wide and diverse portfolio encompassing wine, cheese, coffee, bottling and vineyards. Today the Yukich family is celebrating the opening of their new restaurant, "Woodcutters" at their Nikola E...

In the latest edition of Packaged, we talk to Jason Marocchi from GRA Partners, a West Perth based government relations and communications advisory firm. Mr Marocchi unpacks the Federal and State Government Budgets for 2023 and highlights the winners and losers from both. His major call to the WA government is for the slashing of payroll tax to help foster more economic growth for small mum and da...

We recently partnered with local company WA Energy on how businesses like our family owned WA stores can save on their energy costs and what it means to be clean and green in an ever changing world. Listen to an utmost interesting podcast on the best show on all things liquor: "Packaged"

On the latest edition of “Packaged” we catch up with the Beeson brothers from Old Bridge Cellars in Fremantle. Jay and Toby Beeson’s family bought the store more than ten years ago, and have transformed it into a “go to” destination for weddings, parties, anything, Last year they were named Fremantle Business of the year by the local chamber of commerce and to cap it off, they not only scooped the...

In the latest edition of our popular podcast series “Packaged” we head to the north of the state – a place many regard as paradise. Exmouth is home to Rob Manning and his liquor store, Cellarbrations at Sam’s Cellars. Rob and his team were joint winners of our country liquor store this year, along with Liquor Barons Northam at our annual Liquor Industry Awards. Rob and his family have lived in the...

Rob Zahtila went from banking to liquor in a major sea change he embarked on more than 20 years ago. In that time, Cape Cellars in Busselton has snagged the country Liquor Store of the Year award an amazing four times, including a gong at last month’s Lion Liquor Industry Awards. In the latest edition of “Packaged” we catch up with Rob and find out what keeps him passionate about the industry and...