Kamloops council to reconsider allowing wine sales in Save-On-Foods

Jun 14, 2016 | 2:39 PM

KAMLOOPS — The debate over whether wine will be sold at the Sahali Save-On Foods store is far from over.

Last month, the grocery store was denied a variance allowing it to move the former Discover Wine VQA license inside its store.

At this afternoon’s meeting, council voted 4-3 in favour of reconsidering the issue.

WATCH: Full report by Tanya Cronin

However this time, council will consider more restrictive wording for the liquor license, omitting sake and cider and only allowing BC VQA wine.

That was a major concern for Councillors Tina Lange and Marg Spina, and store manager Neil Allkins says Save-On has no intention of selling anything but BC wine.

“A retail selling agreement is for 100 per cent B.C. VQA wine only. Discover Wines, which we purchased, sold only 100 per cent B.C. VQA wines. Our license with the British Columbia Wine Institute is simple: the Wine Institute owns the license and we have a long term agreement to sell only 100 per cent B.C. VQA wine with that license,” said Allkins.

Reconsidering the issue with more restrictive wording means the matter is essentially restarted, with a new report, another round of public submissions, and another vote to determine whether the variance will be allowed.

Trish Morelli of the BC Wineries Association says it’s a foot in the door for the local winemaking industry.

“It’s a significant impact on the growth of Kamloops wineries because now we have this outlet to promote our wines which we wouldn’t have had, the biggest deal was we had this outlet with Discover Wines and we would have lost it,” says Morelli. 

Al Deacon of the Sahali Liquor Store originally spoke against the variance.

He says he’s disappointed in today’s council vote.

“We thought it was going to go the other way we were hoping for that, not just oursleves, but we’ve learned to work with two models, the government and the private, it’s been a tough slug for many of us and there are some that just can’t afford the loss of sharing to another stakeholder,” says Deacon.

But Deacon says his store is a huge supporter of local wineries, and will continue to support them, even as they advocate for sales in the grocery store.

EXTRA: Interactive map of Sahali liquor stores

The Overwaitea Food Group is a division of the Jim Pattison Group, who also owns CFJC Today.