Buffalo, NY (WBEN) A proposal is being bandied about in the New York State Legislature to allow for wine sales in grocery stores. While grocery stores are sweet on the idea, it's leaving a sour taste in the mouth of liquor store owners.
Rich Larroque of Outlet Liquor tells WBEN it could put the livelihoods of thousands of independent liquor store owners in jeopardy. "You're for putting small business out of business and giving that to the major corporations. I can't see anything positive about it," says Larroque. He says 30% of his sales come from wine. "It's definitely grown over the years to people are drinking more, more, wine," notes Larroque.
Larroque adds supermarket shoppers won't get the attention they get at stores like his. "If people think they're going to get the selection, and the service that they were before, they certainly won't. In fact, I'm in Florida now and just visited a Walmart. And basically, they have one aisle with no selection, nobody there to help you," warns Larroque.
Brian Kusmierski of Market in the Square favors the idea in general. "It would be another revenue source for our supermarket," says Kusmierski. He says looking at beer sales, adding wine sales could add 7% to 10% to his revenue.
But Kusmierski is taking a wait and see approach. "We've gone through this a few times and never passed. So we're not ... getting our hopes up too high because it's been shot down in the past," says Kusmierski. He does say his biggest concern is where to put the wine if approved, determining which products to discontinue if the bill is approved.
Wegmans issued the following statement on the issue: "Wegmans has always been a strong supporter of New York made products. We are in favor of providing convenience for New York consumers, creating jobs, and doing everything possible to support the New York wine industry. We are proud to support legislation that would give New York consumers access to wine in grocery stores, like 40 other states already do."
Tops also issued a statement, saying: "At Tops we take great pride in offering our customers a wide variety of products and services. Should this bill pass, the addition of wine being sold in our stores would further enhance our customers shopping experience, affording them accessibility to NY State wines, among others, and to products they are looking to purchase. In fact in a recent Siena poll, 76% of New Yorkers support the sale of wine in grocery stores."
