Mechanicsburg, PA, 2016-Sep-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — Today (09/01/2016 ), shortly after 10:30 am, Wegmans Mechanicsburg store became the first supermarket in the Greater Harrisburg region to sell wine-to-go. This launched the start of a limited-assortment pilot to help Wegmans and the PLCB evaluate and refine the process for forecasting product demand, ordering, and delivery.
PA Governor Tom Wolf was joined by Wegmans Sr. Vice President Nicole Wegman and other state officials in a toast to the start of wine-to-go sales. To mark the occasion, the governor also purchased the first bottle of wine sold at Wegmans in Pennsylvania. “As I have always said, my goal is to modernize the sale of liquor, wine, and beer in order to bring Pennsylvania’s wine and spirits system into the 21st Century,” said Governor Tom Wolf. “I applaud the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and Wegmans for working together to enhance the customer experience by providing greater convenience and satisfaction to the people of central Pennsylvania.”
Wegmans has applied for wine permits for all 17 of its Pennsylvania stores. By fall, Wegmans expects to offer hundreds of varieties of wine in all 17 locations. “The timing couldn’t be better,” says Nicole Wegman. “The convenience of shopping for wine and beer in the same place you shop for food, just in time for the holidays, is a win for Pennsylvania consumers.”
Company officials stressed that Wegmans will move as swiftly as possible to bring a full assortment of wine to all of its PA stores by Thanksgiving.
“Since the day Act 39 was signed into law, our customers have been asking when wine will be available for sale,” says Blaine Forkell, Wegmans’ PA division manager and SVP. “Through this pilot, the PLCB is taking the right approach to understand how the program will work best for retailers and for their organization. We are happy to work with them and proud to be one of the first stores in PA to sell wine.”
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is a 90-store supermarket chain with stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts. The family-owned company, recognized as an industry leader and innovator, is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2016. Wegmans has been named one of the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ by FORTUNE magazine for 19 consecutive years, ranking #4 in 2016.
Contact Information:
Jo Natale
Wegmans vice president of media relations
585-429-3627
Source: Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.