Liquor stores sale doesn’t include Kelowna store

A Kelowna store set to open later this year has been excluded from the $80-million sale of a liquor store chain.

Alcanna announced this week it is selling 19 stores to Langley-based Otter Co-op.

“Alcanna retains the right to build and open its large-format Wine and Beyond stores in British Columbia including one in Kelowna which is scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2021,” the company said in a news release announcing the sale.

Alcanna describes itself is one of the largest private sector retailers of alcohol and cannabis in North America. It operates 197 alcohol retail stores in Alberta and British Columbia, and 34 cannabis stores in Alberta and Ontario.

“There has been a … moratorium on new licences for private liquor retailers in British Columbia since 2002. However, that moratorium expires in June of 2022 with no indication as yet as to what future direction the government might choose to take,” said James Burns, vice chair and CEO of Alcanna. “Otter Co-op is extremely well positioned to adapt to any potential changes.”