The Ontario government has picked all of the biggest
supermarket chains for permission to sell beer.
It’s the exact opposite of a request made during the 1970s
inquiry into discounts, rebates and allowances the big chains were garnering
from suppliers, pressuring them and smaller-scale grocery stores.
At the time, Liberals were in opposition and favoured the proposal to favour small independents over the dominant supermarket chains.
The association representing the smaller grocers and the
Ontario Federation of Agriculture both recommended then that only the small
grocers and corner stores should be allowed to sell wine and beer as a measure
to level the competitive playing field.
The federation's complaints about chain-store pressure on farmers sparked the inquiry headed by Justice James Leech.
The Ontario government released a list of those that could
sell beef, but they must still apply to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of
Ontario for authorization for individual stores. Only 60 locations will get the
licences.
The retailers are:
Coppa's Fresh Market
Farm Boy 2012 Inc.
Galleria Supermarket
Hanahreuem Mart Inc.
J & B La Mantia Ltd. (La Mantia's Country Market)
Loblaws Inc., which also runs Zehr’s Markets, Fortinos,
T&T, Valu Mart and Super Fresh outlets
Longo Brothers Fruit Market Inc.
Metro Ontario Inc., which also runs Food Basics
Michael-Angelos Market Place Inc.
Pino's Get Fresh
Sobeys Capital Incorporated which also runs Freshco.
Starsky Fine Foods Hamilton Inc.
Wal-Mart Canada Corp.
