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7 York grocery stores OK'd to sell beer

YorkRegion.com
Dec. 15, 2015
Amanda Persico

Milk, check. Eggs, check. Brewski, check, check.

The coveted list of which Ontario grocery stores can stock and sell beer is out. And seven of the 58 stores selected are in York Region.

The bulk of the York Region grocery stores, which got permission to start selling the 6-packs as of today, are in Vaughan.

However, off the seven grocery stores in the region, only one was up and ready to sell beer as of Tuesday.

The Real Canadian Superstore at the corner of Yonge Street and Green Lane in East Gwillimbury has its beer on the shelf.

The store opened its doors with two four-foot end displays stocked full of both craft and domestic beer.

Consumers are open to the idea of finding 6-packs of beer near the chip aisle, the store manager says.

"Customers like the assortment," said store manager Ryan Campbell. "They like the convenience of doing their shopping all in one place and that prices are the same as the LCBO."

This location is one of 19 stores under the Loblaws umbrella selected to sell beer in the province.

While the company head office mobilized and led the charge for beer sales, each local store selected to see beer underwent a staff smart serve training process, Campbell said.

Coppa's Fresh Market, Galleria Supermarket and FreshCo in Vaughan, along with both Sobey's locations, are still in the ordering stage. Delivery is expected in the next few days with stocking of shelves and sales starting shortly after.

Newmarket's Metro is not even at the delivery stage, with the whole process lagging behind.

Here is where, once everything is up and running, you will be able to shop for food and brewskis in the same aisle:

Of the selected stores, 13 are independent grocers. No single grocery chain is being allowed to hold more than 40 per cent of the total allotment.

You can find a variety of beer brands including small microbreweries. Beer prices in the grocery stores are the same as those found in the LCBO and Beer Store.

The provincial government expects to open beer sales to some 450 grocery stores in the coming years.

The province says grocery stores must follow strict controls and mandatory rules when selling beer as part of the government's commitment to ensure that alcohol is sold in a socially responsible manner.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario will ensure that: