‘Subtle shift’: Endeavour says drinkers now choosing quiz nights instead of buying bottle of wine

The embattled owner of Dan Murphy’s and BWS is experiencing a shift in consumer behaviour, as drinkers opt to go to quiz nights at its pubs rather than buying a bottle of wine at its liquor stores.

Endeavour Group on Monday said sales at its 282 Dan Murphy’s and 1444 BWS stores fell 1.2 per cent to $10 billion in the 2025 financial year, while hotels grew 4.1 per cent to $2.1b.

Endeavour interim chief executive Kate Beattie said there had been a “subtle shift” in the occasions when people drink.

Consumers who would have normally purchased a bottle of wine to enjoy with their dinner at home are now going to pub trivia nights at one of Endeavour’s 354 hotels — which include the Como Hotel in Perth — and drinking there, she says.

“Drinking as a part of social occasions is alive and well, but where and when those occasions are occurring is shifting subtly,” Ms Beattie told The Nightly.

“People are still embracing the category and we benefit from the fact that we can see both on-premise and off-premise behaviours.”

Shares in the company closed down 1.4 per cent to $4.14.

Endeavour blamed “subdued consumer spending” for the poor performance of its retail arm, exacerbated by supply disruptions as a result of prolonged strike action by Woolworths warehouse staff on the east coast late last year.

On the bright side, it said luxury wines costing more than $25 were proving popular with millennials and gen Z.

It reported group-wide sales of $12.06b for the full-year, down 0.3 per cent from a year earlier.

Net profit fell 17 per cent to $426 million, although was slightly ahead of the $420m-$425m guidance provided in early August.

“Retail continued to trade well around key occasions to celebrate, including Christmas, New Year and Easter, however outside of these events consumer spending remained subdued,” Endeavour said.

Endeavour is currently being led by a group of interim bosses after the sudden resignation of executive chair Ari Mervis three weeks ago and before former Virgin Australia boss Jayne Hrdlicka takes the reins of day-to-day management in January.

For now, Ms Hrdlicka is consulting to the board the equivalent of two days a week.

Endeavour is also undertaking a portfolio-wide review of its business after the sub-par year that reportedly could result in a split-up of its pubs business from its Dan Murphy’s and BWS liquor stores.

RBC Capital Markets analyst Michael Toner said the key focus for investors would be the increasing divergence in retail and hotels performance.

In the first seven weeks of the new financial year, Endeavour said the retail liquor market remained subdued with Dan Murphy’s and BWS sales down 1.3 per cent, while hotel grew 4.4 per cent.

The board declared a final dividend of 6.3¢ a share.