New Brunswick Liquor is selling off the last of its American-made alcohol at its Salisbury warehouse outlet, seven months after removing U.S. products from store shelves.
CEO Lori Stickles confirmed the sale last week, saying about $3.4 million worth of stock remains. The Crown corporation is now working to recover that investment for New Brunswickers.
“We own these products; let's sell them, let's get our money out,” Stickles said. “We’re actively working to recover that investment and reduce waste.”
Why the Products Were Pulled
American alcohol was pulled from Alcool N.B. Liquor (ANBL) corporate stores in March as part of the province’s response to trade tensions with the United States.
Before the move, U.S. imports accounted for roughly $40 million annually in liquor sales across the province. When the products were removed, about $4 million in inventory remained in storage.
Stickles said the goods have been available to agency stores and licensed establishments, but demand dropped sharply.
“Licensees reprinted menus and changed recipes. They’ve moved on,” she noted.
Political Reaction
Opposition members first urged the province in May to sell off the stockpile.
Saint-Croix MLA Kathy Bockus questioned why the U.S. liquor remained unsold, while Minister Luke Randall emphasized that freeing up shelf space had benefited Canadian producers.
PC MLA Tammy Scott-Wallace, whose riding includes the Salisbury depot, said resuming sales is “the right move.”
“It’s been seven months that it’s been sitting in a box, so I’m encouraged it’s being sold,” she said.
Stickles added that while N.B. Liquor is not planning to resume purchases of U.S. alcohol for now, recovering costs and clearing storage space were key priorities.
