New Brunswick residents who have been missing the taste of Kentucky bourbon or the smoothness of California wine can now find these American products available for purchase at a single location, thanks to New Brunswick Liquor. CEO Lori Stickles announced that the liquor authority began selling its surplus American inventory at its warehouse site in Salisbury about a week ago. Stickles emphasized the importance of maximizing value for the province by selling off these products to recoup investments and prevent wastage.
Following the removal of U.S. alcohol from corporate Alcool N.B. Liquor stores in March due to trade tensions, the Crown corporation found itself with around $4 million worth of American inventory. Stickles revealed that approximately $3.4 million worth of American stock remains unsold. While these products have been accessible to agency stores and licensed establishments, customer demand has been lackluster, leading to the surplus.
Premier Susan Holt had previously announced the removal of U.S. alcohol from store shelves in response to tariff threats from the U.S. President. Despite initially halting purchases of American alcohol in February, the decision to clear existing stock was delayed until March. N.B. Liquor typically sells about $40 million worth of American alcohol annually. The opposition Tories had urged the corporation to sell off the American liquor starting in May, with MLA Kathy Bockus questioning the delay.
Minister Luke Randall highlighted the increased shelf space now available for Canadian producers as a positive outcome of this move, while acknowledging that some U.S. products are still being sold at agency stores. MLA Tammy Scott-Wallace, representing the Salisbury depot store area, supported the decision to liquidate the American products to recover the money already spent, noting the store’s purpose as a clearance outlet. She expressed optimism about the initiative, emphasizing the need to sell off the stored products after seven months.