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Loblaw’s College Square outlet has a Christmas surprise in store for shoppers. Beginning Tuesday at 9 a.m., between aisles 8 and 10, surrounded by crackers, soft drinks, baking goods and spices, you’ll find BEER.
Yes, that’s right. After decades of anxious debate, the provincial government has finally allowed Ontarians to buy their favourite brew — only six packs, mind you, and no wine — at some 60 grocery stores around the province. Four stores in the Ottawa area — College Square Market, the Real Canadian Superstore in south Kanata, Farm Boy in Orléans, and Brown’s Independent Grocer in Stittsville — are included in this initial rollout.
“We’re able to provide equal shelf space for the biggest names in beer and dozens of local craft brews,” College Square store manager Blaine Cross said Monday. “We’ll be the destination for craft beer drinkers.”
In preparation for the arrival of beer, store floor staff had set up two end-of-aisle display cases near the cashier area. One is for craft beers — stores have to provide 20 per cent of shelf space to small and craft brewers in Ontario — and another for domestic beers such as Labatt’s Blue, Canadian, Budweiser and Coors.
Outside, along the Baseline Road side of the store, a large banner declared: “Beer Here!”
Cross noted that only six-packs would be available, and then, like any Beer Store, only between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. during the week and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Prices will be the same as at the LCBO.
Such governmental largesse has been a long time coming in Ontario. Buying alcohol at grocery and convenience stores is common in many countries, but Canadian provinces have historically maintained strict controls on alcoholic products. Only Quebec allows alcohol — beer, wine and liquor — to be sold directly by grocery stores and the like. Former Ontario premier David Peterson broached the idea of selling beer and wine in corner stores in 1985 but couldn’t get the necessary legislation through Queen’s Park.
Well, three decades later, Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne is going to show just how far Ontario has progressed. With TV cameras on hand, she is expected to make an announcement early Tuesday regarding which stores around the province take part in the new measure. She’ll then buy a symbolic six pack at a Loblaw store on Leslie Street in Toronto.
It’s all part of a plan that will, over the next two weeks, see some 60 locations across Ontario begin to sell six packs. There’ll be 13 outlets in eastern Ontario, 16 in the southwestern part of the province and six in northern Ontario. Residents in the Greater Toronto Area will reportedly have 25 stores available to assuage their thirst.
By mid-2016 it is expected that 150 Ontario supermarkets will be selling beer. Eventually, about 450 or Ontario’s 1,500 grocery outlets will have that privilege.
The new arrangement effectively breaks the de facto monopoly The Beer Store has had on retailing beer in the province since the prohibition era of the 1920s.
查看原文...
Yes, that’s right. After decades of anxious debate, the provincial government has finally allowed Ontarians to buy their favourite brew — only six packs, mind you, and no wine — at some 60 grocery stores around the province. Four stores in the Ottawa area — College Square Market, the Real Canadian Superstore in south Kanata, Farm Boy in Orléans, and Brown’s Independent Grocer in Stittsville — are included in this initial rollout.
“We’re able to provide equal shelf space for the biggest names in beer and dozens of local craft brews,” College Square store manager Blaine Cross said Monday. “We’ll be the destination for craft beer drinkers.”
In preparation for the arrival of beer, store floor staff had set up two end-of-aisle display cases near the cashier area. One is for craft beers — stores have to provide 20 per cent of shelf space to small and craft brewers in Ontario — and another for domestic beers such as Labatt’s Blue, Canadian, Budweiser and Coors.
Outside, along the Baseline Road side of the store, a large banner declared: “Beer Here!”
Cross noted that only six-packs would be available, and then, like any Beer Store, only between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. during the week and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Prices will be the same as at the LCBO.
Such governmental largesse has been a long time coming in Ontario. Buying alcohol at grocery and convenience stores is common in many countries, but Canadian provinces have historically maintained strict controls on alcoholic products. Only Quebec allows alcohol — beer, wine and liquor — to be sold directly by grocery stores and the like. Former Ontario premier David Peterson broached the idea of selling beer and wine in corner stores in 1985 but couldn’t get the necessary legislation through Queen’s Park.
Well, three decades later, Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne is going to show just how far Ontario has progressed. With TV cameras on hand, she is expected to make an announcement early Tuesday regarding which stores around the province take part in the new measure. She’ll then buy a symbolic six pack at a Loblaw store on Leslie Street in Toronto.
It’s all part of a plan that will, over the next two weeks, see some 60 locations across Ontario begin to sell six packs. There’ll be 13 outlets in eastern Ontario, 16 in the southwestern part of the province and six in northern Ontario. Residents in the Greater Toronto Area will reportedly have 25 stores available to assuage their thirst.
By mid-2016 it is expected that 150 Ontario supermarkets will be selling beer. Eventually, about 450 or Ontario’s 1,500 grocery outlets will have that privilege.
The new arrangement effectively breaks the de facto monopoly The Beer Store has had on retailing beer in the province since the prohibition era of the 1920s.
查看原文...
