Government has outlined new details for B.C.’s liquor-grocery framework –providing industry with further certainty and time to prepare for the model’s implementation in spring 2015.
Aligning with the spirit of Parliamentary Secretary John Yap’s recommendations and feedback from British Columbians throughout the Liquor Policy Review, licensing under the store-within-a-store model will support the “traditional” grocery experience.
In order to be eligible, grocery stores will need to have approximately 75% of their sales coming from food products and must be a minimum of 10,000 square feet. Grocery stores will have the opportunity to co-brand with liquor stores – regardless of whether the liquor store is physically in the grocery store – and there will be no minimum size requirement for liquor retail stores set up within grocery stores.
The grocery model will not apply to general merchandise stores or “big box” stores, nor to convenience stores, as previously announced.
Excluding general merchandise and convenience stores from the grocery definition – while maintaining the current moratorium on the number of private liquor stores and the one kilometre rule – will also ensure B.C.’s liquor-grocery framework balances the calls for added convenience from consumers with health and public safety, while driving the economy forward with the promotion of B.C. products and businesses.
Consultations with grocery stores, owners and the industry will continue to inform decisions, as the Province works to finalize the made-in-B.C. grocery model.
Details on wholesale pricing and grocery stores selling B.C. wine off the shelf are expected in the coming months.