ACME, Giant Eagle and Brown’s ShopRite among first Pennsylvania food stores to sell wine with expanded permits.
Giant Eagle officially became the first food retailer to sell wine on August 19 as the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) implemented a pilot program for wine-to-go sales.
Speaker Mike Turzai, Representative Dan Frankel and Erin Molchany, representing Governor Wolf, came out to celebrate a new era in wine sales on August 19 with Giant Eagle CEO Laura Karet and other executives at the company's store at 100 Settlers Ridge Center Drive in Pittsburgh.
Giant Eagle and the PLCB began planning and developing the processes for a system-wide roll out of wine-to-go at the company's Pennsylvania stores last month. The pilot program, developed for one Giant Eagle location, is testing and refining processes for forecasting product needs; planning replenishment orders and delivering wine from a PLCB distribution center directly to the store.
"Since launching bottled wine sales in the restaurant area of our Robinson Market District in Pittsburgh on August 19, our customers have purchased hundreds of bottles of their favorite varietals, taking advantage of the convenience of finding Riesling where they also buy raspberries," said Giant Eagle spokesperson Dan Donovan. "We are thrilled with support from our partners at the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, who have since also assisted us in successfully launching bottled wine sales within the restaurant area of our Cranberry Giant Eagle, and we look forward to bringing the offering to additional Pennsylvania locations in the coming weeks."
The PLCB granted 32 wine expanded permits for Giant Eagle stores. The company submitted its first order through the PLCB's Licensee Online Order Portal (LOOP), an internet-based system that allows licensees to order wine and spirits at any time from home or office. The shipment arrived within a few days and Giant Eagle stocked the shelves.
According to board member Mike Negra, the PLCB has been stressing that they want to bring wine to go to consumers as quickly as possible, but they are determined to do it right. They still plan to begin broader-scale wine shipments to large-volume chains in the previously announced October timeframe.
PLCB is working with a number of chain retailers interested in selling wine to go and is encouraging the development of similar pilot programs for retailers to sell wine at multiple locations.
Wine expanded permit holders purchasing smaller amounts of wine may begin selling wine as soon as permits are issued, assuming they are selling wine in-stock at Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores. Licensees requiring larger quantities of wine or certain products not currently in stock may wait longer to receive those products.
Brown's ShopRite in Fairless Hills also began selling wine on August 19 and is happy to see interest in the products grow.
"We are excited to be one of the first retailers to have the opportunity to sell wine in Pennsylvania," said Paul Brauer, executive vice president and COO. "We are learning the process and have worked with the PLCB and PFMA to ensure a smooth rollout for everyone."
ACME Markets began selling wine at its Granite Run store in Media on August 22. They are working closely with the PLCB to begin wine sales at seven more locations soon and an additional two more stores by the year-end.
"It's been a smooth process thus far and we are looking forward to carrying the wine in our stores," said Danielle D'Elia, ACME communications and government relations manager.
"Our customers are loving the convenience of having a true one-stop shop for their grocery, wine and beer needs," she said.
At presstime, Wegmans was set to unveil wine at its first Pennsylvania location.
Giant Eagle officially became the first food retailer to sell wine on August 19 as the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) implemented a pilot program for wine-to-go sales.
Speaker Mike Turzai, Representative Dan Frankel and Erin Molchany, representing Governor Wolf, came out to celebrate a new era in wine sales on August 19 with Giant Eagle CEO Laura Karet and other executives at the company's store at 100 Settlers Ridge Center Drive in Pittsburgh.
Giant Eagle and the PLCB began planning and developing the processes for a system-wide roll out of wine-to-go at the company's Pennsylvania stores last month. The pilot program, developed for one Giant Eagle location, is testing and refining processes for forecasting product needs; planning replenishment orders and delivering wine from a PLCB distribution center directly to the store.
"Since launching bottled wine sales in the restaurant area of our Robinson Market District in Pittsburgh on August 19, our customers have purchased hundreds of bottles of their favorite varietals, taking advantage of the convenience of finding Riesling where they also buy raspberries," said Giant Eagle spokesperson Dan Donovan. "We are thrilled with support from our partners at the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, who have since also assisted us in successfully launching bottled wine sales within the restaurant area of our Cranberry Giant Eagle, and we look forward to bringing the offering to additional Pennsylvania locations in the coming weeks."
The PLCB granted 32 wine expanded permits for Giant Eagle stores. The company submitted its first order through the PLCB's Licensee Online Order Portal (LOOP), an internet-based system that allows licensees to order wine and spirits at any time from home or office. The shipment arrived within a few days and Giant Eagle stocked the shelves.
According to board member Mike Negra, the PLCB has been stressing that they want to bring wine to go to consumers as quickly as possible, but they are determined to do it right. They still plan to begin broader-scale wine shipments to large-volume chains in the previously announced October timeframe.
PLCB is working with a number of chain retailers interested in selling wine to go and is encouraging the development of similar pilot programs for retailers to sell wine at multiple locations.
Wine expanded permit holders purchasing smaller amounts of wine may begin selling wine as soon as permits are issued, assuming they are selling wine in-stock at Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores. Licensees requiring larger quantities of wine or certain products not currently in stock may wait longer to receive those products.
Brown's ShopRite in Fairless Hills also began selling wine on August 19 and is happy to see interest in the products grow.
"We are excited to be one of the first retailers to have the opportunity to sell wine in Pennsylvania," said Paul Brauer, executive vice president and COO. "We are learning the process and have worked with the PLCB and PFMA to ensure a smooth rollout for everyone."
ACME Markets began selling wine at its Granite Run store in Media on August 22. They are working closely with the PLCB to begin wine sales at seven more locations soon and an additional two more stores by the year-end.
"It's been a smooth process thus far and we are looking forward to carrying the wine in our stores," said Danielle D'Elia, ACME communications and government relations manager.
"Our customers are loving the convenience of having a true one-stop shop for their grocery, wine and beer needs," she said.
At presstime, Wegmans was set to unveil wine at its first Pennsylvania location.
A wine display at the Brown’s ShopRite in Bensalem.
RSS Feed