Costco Casula gets nod for liquor

Membership-only wholesaler and retailer Costco has received approval from New South Wales regulators to sell liquor at its new Casula warehouse in Sydney's south-west.

The 14,000 square metre Casula outlet in the Crossroads Homemaker Centre is expected to open later this year, adding to Costco's three existing warehouses in ACT, NSW and Victoria, all of which range liquor.

A Costco spokeswoman told TheShout that the company currently has another warehouse under construction in Ringwood, Melbourne.

"We also plan to open next year in Adelaide and Brisbane," she said.

She said Costco typically ranges about 250 different liquor SKUs, which are split evenly between domestic and imported products.

Costco's liquor customers are comprised of "a very good mix of members buying for personal use and for resale", the spokeswoman added.

"We hosted a trade-only meat, seafood and wine show a week ago at our Auburn warehouse for our members," she said.

"We do this annually and this year's event was exceptionally well attended by local restaurateurs, bar owners, catering companies etc."

Anton Ramshak is Costco's buyer for alcohol and confectionary.

An Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority spokesman told TheShout the Casula outlet's liquor licence application had been approved with trading hours of 8am to 9pm Monday to Saturday and 1am to 9pm on Sunday.

"The licence cannot be exercised until the Authority has been provided with evidence that the premises are complete and ready to trade," he said.

Source: The Shout, 5 August 2013