A litre of milk, a loaf of bread, a stick of butter and a bottle of tequila.
For the first time in Manitoba history, the items on this shopping list will be able to be purchased at a grocery store starting next spring.
The Manitoba Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) plans to open an unspecified number of liquor "express marts" in grocery stores in Winnipeg and Brandon.
The idea, according to MLCC spokeswoman, Diana Soroka, is to put outlets in "underserviced" neighbourhoods, particularly in the northeast and southwest parts of Winnipeg.
The new concept stores, which should be between 600 and 1,500 square feet in size, will be fully enclosed within their own four walls in the grocery store.
While they will offer a range of wine, spirits and beer, they won't have the same breadth of product that full-service stores do, Soroka said.
Canada Safeway said it would respond to the MLCC's request for proposal. Safeway spokesman John Graham said while it would be interested in having liquor offerings in a number of its stores, the MLCC stipulation that no express mart be located within two kilometres of a full-service location rules out many of its outlets right off the hop.
"We operate a number of liquor stores in Alberta and have seen the convenience of adding additional services in grocery stores, such as a bank, coffee shop and pharmacy," he said.
from Western Investor December 2011
