More LCBO outlets coming to Haldimand?

By Kaitlyn Clark

The Haldimand Press

HALDIMAND—The LCBO has announced plans to expand into “approximately 200 new underserved communities”. Five Haldimand communities are on the list of underserved communities: Fisherville, York, Empire Corners, Townsend, and Oswego Park.

The expansion will be comprised of “LCBO Convenience Outlets”, previously known as agency stores. These are independent local retailers who apply to be authorized by the LCBO to sell alcohol with other goods in communities that “do not have otherwise convenient access to an LCBO store”, said the LCBO Press Office. To qualify for this program, the outlet must be an existing business that is outside of a 5km radius from any LCBO or Beer Store. Two of these outlets already exist in Haldimand, at Town & Country Food in Selkirk and at Jarvis Food Market.

Previously, these stores were selected through a competitive process. For this new push for expansion, the LCBO is seeking one eligible business within 5km of the intersection listed within each of the 200 underserved communities. If two businesses apply and both are eligible, a lottery process will randomly select a store.