| Posted by DennisHetzelat 10/20/2008 10:12 PM EDT on Cincinnati.com |
In six of the seven states that border Kentucky, shoppers can pick up a bottle of wine to accompany dinner without leaving the grocery store. Now a coalition of grocery chains, including Kroger and Bowling Green-based Houchens Industries, wants to make that legal here, too.
Article originally posted by The (Bowling Green) Daily News directed to:http://www.bgdailynews.com/articles/2008/10/19/news/news4.txt
Grocers looking to put wine in aisles
Kroger, Houchens among those pushing for change to state law
By JIM GAINES, The Daily News, jgaines@bgdailynews.com
Saturday, October 18, 2008 11:55 PM CDT
In six of the seven states that border Kentucky, shoppers can pick up a bottle of wine to accompany dinner without leaving the grocery store. Now a coalition of grocery chains, including Kroger and Bowling Green-based Houchens Industries, wants to make that legal here, too.
About 400 to 500 stores in Kentucky would be eligible to sell wine, according to Luke Schmidt, lobbyist for the Food With Wine Coalition. The group seeks a change in state law to allow such sales in areas that are already “wet” or “moist” – in this region, that would only allow sales in Bowling Green.
Schmidt said the campaign isn’t aimed at selling alcohol where it’s now prohibited, selling hard liquor in grocery stores, or allowing Sunday sales; groceries just want to sell wine as they do beer, without setting up a separate building for the product.
That adds a convenience factor for customers, which should increase wine sales in general – helping Kentucky wineries and bringing in more tax revenue, said Stephen Reed, director of retail operations for Houchens.
“Food and wine are really more connected than even food and beer, which is already allowed,” he said.
Far from all of Houchens’ stores would be affected, Reed said.
“It does not include convenience stores,” he said. “It would include our Crossroads stores that are smaller-box but still full-line grocery stores.”
There are about 100 such stores – but only 10 percent to 15 percent of those would sell wine, since the rest aren’t in “wet” areas, Reed said. He’s not sure how many of the company’s stores would be affected overall, since many of them are not in Kentucky; and wine would not be sold in Save-A-Lot or Food Giant stores Houchens owns, Reed said.
Schmidt acknowledged that liquor stores oppose the change, but said they should see some benefit, too, from greater wine consumption in general. Groceries wouldn’t likely carry high-priced or specialty wines, which would remain exclusively available at liquor stores, Schmidt said.
Tristan Evans, manager of Chuck’s Liquor Outlet on Louisville Road, said alcohol retailers aren’t entirely happy about having a competitor for wine sales, but acknowledged there might be some small upsides for the wine market – “There’s logic both ways,” he said.
More concerning to Evans are regulations that create a potential double standard.
For instance, spirits have to make up 90 percent of each liquor store’s sales in Bowling Green, while local grocery stores wouldn’t be held to the same rules, Evans said.
“If they’re selling wine, it’s probably going to be less than one-half of 1 percent of their product,” he said.
Schmidt said allowing wine sales in groceries would promote Kentucky wineries, a growing industry. In 2007, there were vineyards in 84 of Kentucky’s 120 counties, including Simpson, according to information from the coalition.
Reed said Houchens has no estimates of how wine might increase the company’s sales or what tax revenues it might generate; but Schmidt said that statewide the change could produce $55 million in new state tax revenue – without raising rates – between 2009 and 2013.
Of Kentucky’s border states, only Tennessee doesn’t allow wine sales in grocery stores, though there’s now a push there, too, Schmidt said.
Reed, one of the planners of the legislative effort, said store owners are still talking about how to best approach the General Assembly.
House Speaker Pro Tem Larry Clark, D-Louisville, prefiled a bill in the Spring 2008 session to allow wine sales in groceries, but it never got out of the Licensing & Occupations Committee. House Bill 585 would have allowed wine sales in stores which occupied at least 10,000 square feet and had a minimum inventory of $20,000 in meat, produce, dairy and frozen products, subject to a $500 license fee.
Brian Wilkerson, spokesman for House Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, said legislators have been discussing the idea in general terms this fall, but knew of no bill ready for filing.
On Friday, Clark’s office relayed a statement from Scott Jones, his chief of staff, saying he would not comment on the issue at this time, or on whether HB 585 might be re-filed.
Video news report on the Food with Wine Coalition’s launch to allow Kentucky grocery stores to sell wine by revising existing law.
A consultant with the Food with Wine Coalition tells us they’re a non-profit organization representing a number of large retailers including Houchens. Thursday, one representative of the group spoke to WBKO about their goal.
Article originally posted by the WBKO-TV Web site directed to: http://www.wbko.com/home/headlines/30718344.html
| Group Works to Get Wine on Grocery Store Shelves
A consultant with the Food with Wine Coalition tells us they’re a non-profit organization representing a number of large retailers including Houchens. Thursday, one representative of the group spoke to WBKO about their goal. Posted: 9:00 PM Oct 9, 2008 |
A consultant with the Food with Wine Coalition tells us they’re a non-profit organizationrepresenting a number of large retailers including Houchens. Thursday, one representative of the group spoke to WBKO about their goal.
Bowling Green resident Wanda Baize has traveled to Sumner Crest Winery in Portland for an afternoon wine tasting.
Thursday, the discussion at the bar is whether an existing law should be changed to allow wine on food store shelves in Wanda’s home state.
“Well, I think that’s okay in case someone just wants to get a bottle, knowing what they want,” Wanda says. “But then they miss the specialness of a winery.”
Like Wanda, the Food with Wine Coalition wants the option available to Kentucky residents.
“We project over the first five years, after the law has been changed, the state will see $55-million dollars in new incremental revenue just through the sale of wine,” Food with Wine Coalition Consultant Luke Schmidt explains. “That’s without increasing existing taxrates.”
According to Schmidt, the main opposition to changing the existing law are liquor stores.
“The liquor stores and distributors are the middle man concerned about pricingand money,” says Jimmie Jacobs, wine consultant for Sumner Crest Winery. “We want to offer the product that’s grown locally to people at a reasonable price where we all benefit.”
“I don’t have a problem with how many people do it, but it’s not competitive,” says Airport Liquors Owner Eric Wheeler. “The Kroger’s, the Sam’s, the Wal-Marts, they have the pockets. They have the deep pockets, which means they can sell cheaper. They can give big discounts for buying big volume. Therefore, they can sell it cheaper, and that stamps out the middle man, the small guy.”
Still, Schmidt says he expects liquor store business will continue with wine sales increasing all-around.
“We know for a fact, as everyone does, the state is looking for every new dollar they can find,” Schmidt concludes. “This is a great way to find $55-million dollars.”
Schmidt also tells WBKO, in the event the law is changed, it will only impact wet or moist counties. Dry counties would stay the same.
Video news report of Liquor Barn’s decision to resume purchases of Kentucky wines.
Video news story about the introduction of House Bill 585 which will allow Kentucky grocery stores to sell wine.
Video news report about the launch of the Food with Wine Coalition’s campaign to allow grocery stores to sell wine in Kentucky.
Some local liquor store owners are opposing a renewed effort to expand wine sales into certain Kentucky grocery stores. Legislation to that effect died in the General Assembly this year. Now, a group called the Food with Wine Coalition wants to try again.
“Wine has become an accepted part of a health, balanced diet,” says Coalition consultant Luke Schmidt. “Lifestyles are changing and food store operators decided perhaps now is the time to take a look at the law which hasn’t really been changed since prohibition.”
Article originally posted to the WFPL-FM Web site directed to: http://www.wfpl.org/2008/10/01/liquor-retailers-oppose-wine-sales-in-grocery-stores/
Liquor Retailers Oppose Wine Sales In Grocery Stores
Gabe Bullard October 1, 2008|
Some local liquor store owners are opposing a renewed effort to expand wine sales into certain Kentucky grocery stores. Legislation to that effect died in the General Assembly this year. Now, a group called the Food with Wine Coalition wants to try again.
“Wine has become an accepted part of a health, balanced diet,” says Coalition consultant Luke Schmidt. “Lifestyles are changing and food store operators decided perhaps now is the time to take a look at the law which hasn’t really been changed since prohibition.”
In Louisville, Old Town Wine and Spirits owner Gordon Jackson says he thinks money might also be a motivating factor.
“They’re businesspeople and they’re trying to grow their business and they’re support for the Kentucky wine thing may be a little bit of a smokescreen,” he says.
The Liquor Barn chain has stopped buying some Kentucky-made wines in an effort to fight the coalition. Jackson’s store doesn’t sell locally-produced wine. Kentucky is among 16 states that don’t allow wine to be sold in food store
At least one organization wants to legalize the sell of wine at the corner grocery. The Kentucky Food and Wine Coalition represents the grocery store industry, and wants to educate the public on expanded wine sales. The commonwealth is one of only 16 states where wine sales are not allowed inside grocery stores, even those stores that sell beer.
Article originally posted by the WHAS-TV Web site directed to: http://www.whas11.com/news/local/64139217.html
Local organization pushing for expanded wine sales in groceries
WHAS11.com
Posted on August 15, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Updated Tuesday, Oct 13 at 3:28 PM
At least one organization wants to legalize the sell of wine at the corner grocery.
The Kentucky Food and Wine Coalition represents the grocery store industry, and wants to educate the public on expanded wine sales. The commonwealth is one of only 16 states where wine sales are not allowed inside grocery stores, even those stores that sell beer.
It’s something the coalition hopes to change, some they say grocers want to change as well.
“We would like to change existing Kentucky laws to allow the creation of a new license which would allow food stores in counties where alcohol beverage package sales are already allowed to also be able to sell wine,” said Luke Schmidt of L.B. Schmidt and associates.
Schmidt says there are 50 wineries in Kentucky and allowing that wine to be sold in grocery stores would benefit the local wine industry. Schmidt also says that people who live in dry counties would not be affected by any future change to the existing law.
LOUISVILLE (WAVE) — When you buy groceries in Kentucky, you can grab some beer, but most stores are not allowed to sell wine. That could change, but WAVE 3’s Elizabeth Donatelli reports that not everyone supports the idea.
Article originally posted by the WAVE-TV Web site directed to: http://www.wave3.com/story/7958225/bill-to-allow-wine-sales-in-kentucky-groceries-proposed?redirected=true
Bill to allow wine sales in Kentucky groceries proposed
By Elizabeth Donatelli
LOUISVILLE (WAVE) — When you buy groceries in Kentucky, you can grab some beer, but most stores are not allowed to sell wine. That could change, but WAVE 3’s Elizabeth Donatelli reports that not everyone supports the idea.
Grocery stores in Kentucky have been selling beer as far back as most can remember, but now may be adding wine to that aisle.
“I don’t consider it a hard liquor and I don’t consider it much different than beer or a wine cooler,” said shopper Theresa Hughes.
She also liked the convenience of buying wine at the same place she picks up her food.
At Kroger stores in other states, wine is the second fastest growing product behind bottled water. Those supporting the bill say giving consumers more places to buy Kentucky wine will improve the state’s industry and bring money into the economy.
“The groceries for their part will generate $55 million in a 5-year period so this is really going to help tax revenue,” said Eddie O’Daniel of the Kentucky Winery Association.
One liquor storeowner disagrees and says it will oversaturate the market, drive some out of business, and take money out of the state.
“National corporations all headquartered outside the state of the Kentucky, going to their shareholders so that the real revenue stream is going to leave Kentucky,” said Kevin Schweitzer, owner of Liquor World.
They are also concerned about minors’ access to the wine. Kroger trains its employees how to sell liquor and only those 20 or up can do so, but dedicated liquor stores are required to have stricter policies.
“They don’t want to restrict their stores to people who are over the age of 21,” said Roger Lee Leasor, owner of Liquor Barn. “We do that. At Liquor Barn, you have to be over the age of 21 or with your parents or you can’t be in the store. Can you imagine Kroger doing that?”
We asked and they won’t limit access to the store or aisle.
“Whatever law exists right now for the sale of beer would also take precedent here,” said Luke Schmidt of the Food with Wine Coalition.
A spokesperson for the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control says the department neither supports nor rejects the bill, but did say because grocery stores carry beer, it will not create additional work as they are already inspected on a regular basis.