Four large grocery chains have been selected by the province to start selling beers on their shelves. These are Loblaws, which owns No Frills, Sobeys, Metro and Walmart who all have locations in Parry Sound. This is the first step in the process as companies will still be expected to apply for individual store locations to sell beer through the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. Depending on the company’s decisions, local locations may or may not be chosen. The government believes this would mean about 60 grocery locations across Ontario will be selling six packs of beer by the end of the year. Overall 13 grocers both chain and individual locations across Ontario were approved for beer sales. The bidding process is still open to other retailers in the case that one of these 13 businesses chosen is not authorized by the AGCO. The Premier’s Advisory Council on Government Assets is continuing to talk with wine and spirits producers on how to provide greater opportunities for Ontario’s wine industry.
