Friday marked the one-year anniversary of the Ontario government giving the green light for convenience stores to sell alcohol. The Convenience Industry Council of Canada (CICC) says approximately two-thirds of Ontario’s 7,500 convenience stores have applied to sell booze over the past year. “We knew it was going to be good for our business, and frankly, it saved some stores from closing,” says Anne Kothawala, President and CEO of the CICC. Kothawala says the new alcoholic products on shelves have boosted sales for corner stores, which become the go-to for customers on long weekends and holidays. “We’re looking at about a 12 per cent increase, which is driven by increased foot traffic, on average. And that upticks to about 33 per cent when we look at long weekends like Canada Day, Victoria Day, Labor Day.” Michael Kidane, owner of the Iris Food Market in Ottawa’s Pinecrest neighbourhood, says he is experiencing that increase in business. “Our community’s a little bit of a low-income area, so they don’t spend that much money. But now I see the difference after we’ve added beer,” he tells CTV News Ottawa. “I see new customers for beer, they buy other things, like chips, like a drink, and a chocolate bar. And it’s good for me. I’ve seen 10, 20 per cent growth.” Kothawala says while the new business as been a positive for the convenience store industry, the ordering process is one aspect that could be streamlined to save store owners money and provide more options to customers. “These stores are quite small. So, we have a real issue when it comes to deliveries of products, and especially leading up to, for example, a long weekend where demand is going to be higher. You literally have nowhere to put that extra product that you’re ordering, which means your only option is to order it more frequently. But if you order it more frequently, that comes with additional expense,” she says. Adaptation will be required in the new year by corner store owners selling alcohol. Stores that sell booze will be required to accept empty bottles and cans through the Ontario Deposit Return Program beginning Jan. 1.
