'LCBO Express' is coming to Ontario grocery stores this year

Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa announced plans this afternoon to open LCBO locations in grocery stores.

The pilot will begin with 10 LCBO Express kiosks to open by the end of the year, and each LCBO location would include Ontario craft beer and VQA wines.

Sousa noted the LCBO Express stores would operate under the same LCBO hours of business, but a separate checkout location would be in place for those purchasing LCBO products versus other grocery fare.

Families typically stop off on their way home to pick up dinner, said Sousa. “This makes it easier to pick up a bottle of wine as well.”

READ: In Ontario, debate continues over liquor sales at the grocery store

The LCBO issued a Request for Proposals today for up to seven Express stores. Retailers interested must be able to accommodate at least 2,000 square feet of space within their store — standard LCBO stores are about 15,000 square feet. Proximity to other LCBO locations would be taken into account, said Sousa.

While retailers still need to be chosen, we can expect locations to open in Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga and London.

Preliminary plans for the project were set in motion in late 2012 when Finance Minister Dwight Duncan announced the LCBO was given the go head to open 10 LCBO Express locations within supermarkets.