Louisville, Kentucky (September 9, 2009) – The Food with Wine Coalition announced today that it has launched an innovative online petition drive. The petition drive provides Kentuckians with a quick and easy way to stand up and confirm their support for changing existing state law to allow grocery stores to sell wine in counties which allow the sale of alcoholic beverages by the package.

For Immediate Release

Food with Wine Coalition Launches Online Petition Drive

Thousands of Kentuckians Have Voiced Their Support for Changing Existing State Law to Allow Grocery Stores to Sell Wine

The petition drive is open to all Kentuckians of the age of 21 and over.

“Kentuckians continue to ask their local grocers why they can’t purchase wine where they shop for food,” commented Luke B. Schmidt, President of L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC and consultant to the Food with Wine Coalition. “By signing the Food with Wine Coalition’s online petition, consumers across Kentucky can quickly show their support for changing the law and they can communicate directly with their state legislator.”

Here is how it works: first Kentuckians should visit www.foodwithwine.org and click on the Sign the Petition link. Then complete the form and click on “Sign Now.” It’s that easy and will take no more than 30 seconds. By signing the petition, Kentuckians will automatically send a note to their respective state representative and state senator confirming their support for this initiative.

The Coalition is now also represented on two social networking media sites – Facebook and Twitter. On Facebook, interested parties can search for the Food with Wine Coalition, Inc. In addition to following news on this issue on the Coalition’s Web site, interested Kentuckians can also follow the Food with Wine Coalition on Twitter at the following link:

http://twitter.com/KYfoodwithwine

The Food with Wine Coalition is supporting the online petition drive with distinctive in-store displays asking consumers “Where’s the Wine?” The displays (copy of display design is attached to this release) have been placed in over 100 grocery stores from Paducah to Ashland. In addition, consumers in these stores will be given a bag stuffer with each transaction which will encourage them to visit the Coalition’s Web site and sign the online petition.

Schmidt noted that there is widespread support for changing the existing law to allow grocery stores to sell wine. Previously, 56,000 Kentuckians signed petitions in grocery stores across the state in support of the initiative. Media online polling consistently indicates that 90%+ of those polled want this law changed. Schmidt stated that changing existing law is “pro-consumer, pro-agriculture and pro-Kentucky,” and that there are three significant reasons as to why the law should be changed, including:

Changing the law will increase competition in the state’s wine market by opening up between 300 and 400 new grocery store sales outlets for consumers to purchase wine, which will eliminate the near monopoly that liquor stores have held going all the way back to Prohibition

By adding these new sales outlets, the sale of wine is expected to grow substantially which industry projections indicate will increase the amount of tax revenue collected by the Commonwealth by $30.1 million during the first two years the new law is in place, and by $83.8 million over the first five years – without adding any new taxes or increasing any existing tax rates – a real benefit to the Commonwealth as it continues to bridge revenue gaps during these challenging economic times

The addition of these new sales outlets will also substantially increase the sale of Kentucky-produced wine, thereby increasing the demand for Kentucky-grown grapes – a real benefit for Kentucky’s farm families who are transitioning away from tobacco

Schmidt stated, “The time has come for Kentucky’s General Assembly to pass this progressive legislation and enable the state to join 34 other states which already allow grocery stores to sell wine, including six of our seven border states. When the hundreds of thousands of visitors arrive from all over the World next year in Lexington for the FEI World Equestrian Games, they will expect to be able to purchase wine in a variety of locations, including grocery stores.”

The Food with Wine Coalition is a not for profit organization that was established in 2007 by Kentucky’s grocery store industry and is supported by Kentucky’s wine industry. The Coalition’s purpose is to educate and inform the citizens of Kentucky about the advantages of allowing grocery stores to sell wine in wet and moist counties. Interested parties are invited to learn more about the issue by visiting the Coalition’s Web site (www.foodwithwine.org).

Note: members of the media may obtain an electronic version of the Food with Wine Coalition’s logo and the in-store display piece by contacting Luke Schmidt (502.292.2898 or via electronic mail, lbschmidt@lbschmidt.com).