Threshers promotes equality

Threshers extends its "buy two, get third free" offer to cover Champagne and sparkling wines, and there’s more to come so watch this space…

WE’RE ALL in the mood for a cocktail so spirits are the focus this month.  Baileys and Bell’s are both down £1.50 at Waitrose to £10.49 and £10.99 respectively (all promotions 04.04.05 to 08.05.05).

Speyside malt Glen Moray shows the biggest reduction here from £15.99 to £12.99, while Stolichnaya and Teacher’s are both down £2. Smirnoff Vodka itself may not be on promotion here but Smirnoff Ice and Black Ice 70cl bottles are both reduced by 70p to £2.79.

Meanwhile whisky is also in the spotlight at Somerfield this month with both Bell’s and Whyte & Mackay down £2 this month, while Gordon’s is £1 off for those eager to start the summer rounds of G&T. At the Co-op Teacher’s is down from £11.99 to £9.99 (England only), as is Tia Lusso Cream, while litres of Smirnoff Red Label Vodka have £2 of their normal retail price of £15.99.

It’s Cognac that’s the real bargain though, with Otard (50cl) reduced by £4 to £13.99.  On the wine side, "Co-op’s Fizz of the Month" is also Australian, with Lindemans Bin 25 Sparkling NV down to £5.49 from £6.99 (04.04.05 to 24.04.05). Other wines on promotion include the Trio label from Concha y Toro, with the Chardonnay/Pinot Grigio/Pinot Blanc and Merlot/Carmenère/Cabernet Sauvignon both down £1.50 to £4.49.

Apart from their permanent linksave offers Asda have 25% off all Australian wine, including Australian sparkling wine, until the 24th April, covering wines from Yellow Tail to Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet and Wolf Blass President’s Selection.

They also have case deals of six bottles of ownlabel Rioja for £16.10, or six bottles of own label Cava for a rock-bottom £14.90.  However the big news in the world of discounting at the moment is the Thresher Group’s decision to offer "buy 2 get 3rd free" across their entire range of wines.

This offer has been running across a large range of wines for some months now, and they have recently launched the same deal across all Champagne and sparkling wine, with a full roll-out scheduled to take place over the next few weeks.

Alex Anson, head of wine buying at Thresher Group commented, "We are doing this because we think it is a great offer for customers as it gives them the opportunity to buy whatever wine they want and be rewarded as opposed to simply what is on promotion."

And it’s not just wine, beers will also be promoted on a permanent basis with all bottled ales carrying a four for £5 offer.  It will be interesting to see how other retailers react when the true extent of the blanket promotion is unfurled.

Meanwhile we’ve been loitering in the aisles of the major multiples to compare the prices of core spirits brands, and an own-label vodka, for good measure.