Can you not just admire these Ontario politicians? They are so brave and forward looking that they are going to try some liquor kiosks in a few of the bigger grocery stores. These are the super stores that have dry cleaners, wine kiosks, mini-banks, children’s wear and women’s dresses, pharmacies, a spa and maybe a bakery and deli. These are stores that are built in areas with a potential of more than half a million shoppers. And most are controlled by the Weston family.
But remember this is just a test. Maybe they will roll out another ten or so in time for the next Ontario election. There could also be an occasional addition during a particularly tough by-election. Bear in mind though that Walmart need not apply.
We expect that the first of these booze kiosks will be at that shrine to hockey, the old Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. The Weston family turned it into a super-supermarket On the assumption that there is lots of space going to waste there, it will likely be the standard to which all other such kiosks will aspire. It could even be used to test new products and maybe even introduce the first President’s Choice booze products. It would be so appropriate to have Gregory Weston’s picture on the better aged scotches.
Pricing for the booze kiosks will be no problem. The Weston family runs the most expensive chains of grocery stores in Ontario and their pricing will fit right in with the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. The LCBO has been overcharging Ontario residents for liquor and wine for close to 100 years and we presume the Weston family will have to follow suit.
While it is fun to ridicule this idea, we had better admit here that the Weston family will probably have nothing to do with the pricing or brands of booze in their kiosks. These brave little outposts of the LCBO empire will be run by the LCBO, not the Westons. The kiosks will even keep local LCBO hours no matter what hours the grocery stores might be open in that market.
What we would really like to know is why is there so much ballyhoo about this really dumb idea? And it is dumb. These kiosks will be too damn small to give shoppers any choice in what they can buy. It will promote only quick sellers. It will not link booze with food which would have been the objective if it was done properly. It is a bad idea, promoted by incompetent politicians.
We really have to get those people at Queen’s Park away from the booze. They do not know what they are doing.
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Copyright 2014 © Peter Lowry
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