New Brunswick residents who have been missing the flavors of Kentucky bourbon or the elegance of California wine can now discover these bottles back on the shelves of liquor stores — albeit in just one location. New Brunswick Liquor recently commenced the sale of its surplus American products at its warehouse situated in Salisbury, as confirmed by CEO Lori Stickles. “We aim to maximize the value for New Brunswick. Since we own these products, it’s beneficial to sell them and recover our investment,” Stickles stated. She emphasized the importance of recouping the investment for the people of New Brunswick, minimizing waste, and avoiding the necessity to dispose of aging products.
Following the removal of U.S. products from corporate Alcool N.B. Liquor stores in March due to the trade dispute with the United States, the Crown corporation was left with approximately $4 million worth of American inventory. Stickles informed the public accounts committee of the legislature that around $3.4 million worth of that inventory remains unsold. While these products have remained accessible to agency stores and licensed establishments, the demand has been lackluster, according to Stickles.
Customers have been opting out of purchasing these American products, leading to slow sales. Stickles noted that licensees have adjusted their menus and drink offerings, reflecting a shift away from U.S. alcohol. New Brunswick halted the procurement of American alcohol in February but delayed removing it from shelves until March. N.B. Liquor typically generated around $40 million annually from the sale of American alcohol.
In response to calls from the opposition Tories to sell the existing stock, Minister Luke Randall highlighted the increased space for Canadian producers on the shelves, despite some U.S. products still being available at agency stores. MLA Tammy Scott-Wallace, representing the riding housing the Salisbury depot store, supported the decision to sell the American products to recover the initial expenses incurred by N.B. Liquor. She praised the depot store as the ideal location for this purpose, emphasizing the need to liquidate the products that have been stored for seven months.
