New Brunswick residents looking to purchase Kentucky bourbon or California wine can now find these American products available for sale at a specific location. New Brunswick Liquor recently began selling its surplus stock of American alcohol at its warehouse in Salisbury. According to CEO Lori Stickles, the decision was made to maximize the value of these products and recoup the investment made by the province.
The removal of U.S. alcohol from corporate Alcool N.B. Liquor stores in March was a response to trade tensions with the United States. At that time, the Crown corporation had approximately $4 million worth of American inventory, with around $3.4 million of stock remaining. These products were still accessible to agency stores and licensed establishments, but demand has been low.
Despite initial opposition, the decision to sell off the existing American alcohol stock was supported by Minister Luke Randall, emphasizing the increased space for Canadian producers. The Salisbury depot store, where the American products are now being sold, was highlighted as the ideal location to recover the costs incurred by New Brunswick Liquor.
MLA Tammy Scott-Wallace, representing the Salisbury depot store area, expressed optimism about the decision to sell the American alcohol, emphasizing the store’s purpose as a liquidation outlet. The move to offload these products aims to prevent waste and generate revenue for the province.
