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Ontario grocery store beer sales are being blamed for a “cash shortfall” last year to the tune of $13.1 million, contributing to the closure of 10 Beer Stores.

In a statement, Beer Store spokesman Bill Walker says the sales slump is a direct result of the opening of beer sales in 450 Ontario grocery stores and of the continued uncertainty surrounding the Beer Store’s current 10-year operating agreement with the province, which was signed in 2015 and would be costly to terminate.

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Walker, however, said claims that the company is getting out of the retail business altogether are false.

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Five stores –– 572 Church St., 1200 Dundas St. W., 1285 Queen St. E., the store at Don Mills and Eglinton, and 2866 Ellesmere Rd. –– will close their doors at the end of the month when their leases are up. Five more closures are planned for later this year.

The Beer Store has not reported any layoffs. Staff at the closing stores will be shifted to other locations.

Beer Canada, the association whose members account for 90% of beer brewed in Canada, could not be reached for comment Friday.

ONTARIO CRAFT BEER