Ontario’s Premier Kathleen Wynne (below) is currently a very popular individual in the eyes of breweries and beer buyers across the province. On the 15th December last year, she made history by simply buying a six-pack of beer at a grocery store. Commonplace for most, but for Ontarians, she was indulging in a simple pleasure that had been denied to consumers for too long.

“Today, the wait is over. Beer is here,” she announced at the Loblaws grocery store after procuring the Rhyme & Reason beers from Toronto’s Collective Arts Brewing. For Wynne, she was marking
a move away from purchasing beer controlled by the province’s strict Liquor Board of Ontario (LCBO) or the foreign-owned Beer Store.

Loblaws immediately rolled out beer sales across 19 outlets, with grocery stores planning a swift acceleration, ensuring that nearly 500 stores offer beer by the end of 2017.

“We salute Loblaw’s commitment to Ontario craft brewers and its exceptional efforts to provide us new retail opportunities,” says John Hay, President, Ontario Craft Brewers. “The province has a vibrant community of craft brewers and we expect Loblaw’s business to create new energy and new opportunities to connect Ontario customers with Ontario beer throughout the province.”

“Our customers shop with us for all the flavours and ingredients of great meals, and today we can better serve that demand with the announcement that beer is here,” said Grant Froese, CEO of Loblaw Companies.

He adds: “This is a historic first step for our company and for the Ontario government, giving customers the greater convenience of shopping for groceries and beer in one stop. We expect great demand and customer anticipation for more opportunity in our local stores throughout the province, consistent with the government’s planned roll-out.”