An American department store chain with two outlets in Sudbury will be among the first grocery stores to sell beer in Sudbury.

Both locations of Walmart Supercentres, on Lasalle Boulevard and on Long Lake Road, are among the first 58 stores in Ontario authorized to sell beer.

In a news release, Premier Kathleen Wynne and Finance Minister Charles Sousa said the 13 independent stores and 45 stores owned by large companies are the first round of "Ontario’s commitment to make it more convenient for people to buy beer."

Eventually as many as 450 grocery stores in the province will be able to serve beer, the same number of locations The Beer Store now operates in the province, said the politicians in a news release.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission visited all 58 sites to ensure they were suitable to sell beer, said Wynne.

For more about beer in grocery stores, go to https://www.ontario.ca/page/beer-sales-grocery-stores#section-0.