Article content

A vice-president at Federated Co-op says the provincial government is unfairly picking winners and losers in the grocery store industry with its choices in awarding major liquor store contracts

Vic Huard, executive vice-president of strategy for Federated Co-op, said he is shocked and disappointed that Co-op stores in Saskatchewan’s major cities are being left out of the private liquor store business.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Federated Co-op says government unfairly 'tilting the playing field' with liquor store contracts Back to video

“You are handing this significant advantage to a direct competitor based in the Maritimes. That’s what is astonishing,” Huard said.

While 14 smaller Co-ops in rural communities got contracts to run privately-run liquor stores, Co-op was shut out in Regina, Saskatoon, North Battleford, Moose Jaw and Prince Albert. Many of those major stores went to Sobeys, the grocery chain based out of the Maritimes.

“We are completely shut out. And for us that is just, frankly, disappointing,” Huard said.