And If The Grocery Stores Were Selling Gin
By Zack Stilington
May 23, 2018
CANADA – Before the craze for spirits in quebec to the société des alcools du Québec (SAQ), the big players of the power and convenience stores would also like to lather on their tablets these products of the soil. What the law prohibits.
Saturday, The Sun argued that since the fiscal year 2013-2014, the sales of the products of the province of Quebec at the SAQ have jumped from $ 36.3 million to $ 61.8 million $, an increase of 70 %. For spirits, such as gin, vodka or whisky, they went from $ 19.2 million to $37.9 million.
“Today, we can sell craft beers, ciders and wine, but no spirits,” said Yves Servais, general manager of the merchants Association convenience stores and grocers in Quebec, a collection that has over 1000 members.
“In recent years, we have placed the emphasis on the beers from quebec. This are the convenience stores, which have given a boost to the industry. […] For wine, it is more problematic, because a number of vineyards do not have a production capacity large enough. By contrast, for the spirits, we would like to be able to contribute to the growth of the market. These are quality products. It would be necessary to make changes to the regulations,” he continued
The latter concedes that this battle against the government and the State-owned company to obtain an amendment to the law will not be an easy matter. “The SAQ, it is a monster, it is a State within a State. This will not be easy to win!”
Open to the idea
Currently, the regulations do not allow convenience stores or grocers to sell spirits in quebec. There is still no permit from the genre. This measure is restricted to the SAQ.
At Loblaw, Metro and Sobeys, the perpetrators have not wanted to be wet directly on the subject. They preferred to give the floor to the Canadian Council of retail Trade (RCC), which is the voice of retailers in the country.
“Retailers have a wide range of local products that they offer to the consumers and they encourage the producers for many years. For example, the québec wines are arriving in stores as early as December 2016, following a legislative change,” recalls Marc Fortin, president, RCC-Québec. “They are, therefore, open to improve their offer of products, including alcoholic products and spirits are no exception. They can already be found in several grocery stores in the United States and in several countries in Europe. If the law allowed, and that a change to the legislation in force was made, the retailers would also spirits to consumers in québec,” he continued.
“The SAQ has an excellent distribution network. Is it that we could offer the two options? Maybe. This is done particularly in British Columbia ”
—Joel Pelletier, co-founder of the Distillery in the St. Laurent
In the last few days, of spirits producers have complained to the Sun the fact that they don’t have the right “to the same privileges” as other players of the industry, such as wine. For example, several of them still may not sell their product to their place of production because of their permits “industrial”. To be able to do so, they must obtain a licence “craftsman”, as is the case for The Domaine Lafrance in Saint-Joseph-du-Lac. This means that the producer cultivates the raw material of his recipe.
However, this may change due to the proposed act, 170 which aims in particular to modernize the legal regime applicable to the liquor license.
To obtain the right to sell spirits in grocery and convenience stores, the co-founder of the Distillery in the St. Laurent, Joël Pelletier, is said to be open to the idea.
“The SAQ has an excellent distribution network. Is it that we could offer the two options? Maybe. This is done particularly in British Columbia,” notes the businessman. “The fact that there is a monopoly in Quebec, there are good and bad sides. […] If a small distillery could sell in the markets of its region, it is certain that it would have an impact. I would be in favor. This is done in wine and beer, so why not do it with the spirits”, he says.
On the side of the Association of microdistilleries in Quebec, it indicates not having studied the question for the moment. “There was also the issue of public safety,” says Stéphan Ruffo, president.