Local convenience, grocery stores react to expanded alcohol sales

With a stocked refrigerator filled with beer, it has been more than a month since Canco Convenience Store in Collingwood began selling alcohol, and business is going well.

“Revenue-wise we are up because, now people have everything they want at one place,” said Sanjeev, the convenience’s store’s manager.

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The store is one of 4,200 locations across Ontario that began stocking their shelves on September 5th following the province's expanded alcohol plan.

The rollout has been smooth at the shop according to Sanjeev. He says he has not noticed any changes when it comes to safety, and that ID’s are checked with each purchase.

“It's convenient for people rather than going to a store or Beer Store, and some of the people don't have cars so they can walk around and maybe don’t have to go to a beer store,” said Sanjeev.

On Thursday, Kimberly Shneider and her team at Duntroon Cyder House were loading a vehicle for their latest delivery going to a convenience store.

While regulated shops are required to have 20 per cent craft beer products, Schneider says there should be more for growth.

“We're always competing with the big guys, whether it be in grocery convenience or the LCBO,” said Schneider, “Just getting that support makes a difference, but there's always that competition that is always there.”

A shared sentiment for Louise West, who owns D & L's Family Variety down the road in Nottawa. The family-owned business has had an LCBO license for four years; however, West says the province's new rules do not make it a fair playing field for licensed owners like herself.

“They have a minimum and a maximum that they can charge where we don't have that. We have to stick to the LCBO and the Beer Store pricing, which is fine with us,” said West. “But it doesn't make any sense to have two-tiered pricing.”