The Giant Co. Rolls Out Canned Cocktails in Pennsylvania
The Giant Co. is taking advantage of a new Pennsylvania law allowing the sale of ready-to-drink cocktails in stores, effective Sept. 16.
The Ahold Delhaize-owned grocer has already started to rollout these products at nearly all its Giant and Martin’s stores with operating beer and wine departments throughout the state.
The Giant Co. applied for and received permits and licenses from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to sell canned cocktails at 138 of its locations seven days a week from 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Stores began to display products on Sept. 16 and will continue adding varieties over the coming days and weeks, the company said in a statement.
The retailer said it plans to carry regional and national brands, including E. & J. Gallo Winery’s High Noon hard seltzers and Philadelphia-born Surfside/Stateside spiked teas and lemonades.
“Our stores have been a destination for beer and wine since 2011 and 2016, respectively, and we have heard from our customers about the convenience of being able to grab ready-to-drink cocktails while grocery shopping too,” Rebecca Lupfer, senior vice president and chief merchant, The Giant Co., said in the statement.
Signed into Pennsylvania law on July 17, Act 86 of 2024 introduces the sale of ready-to-drink cocktails to the liquor code. Act 86 defines ready-to-drink cocktails as pre-mixed drinks made from distilled liquor and other nonalcoholic liquids packaged by the manufacturer in containers of up to 16 ounces.
Just like beer and wine purchases, shoppers must also pay for their canned cocktail purchases at the register located within the store's beer and wine department. Customers will be able to purchase, in a single sale, up to 192 ounces of ready-to-drink cocktails, and/or 192 ounces of malt or brewed beverages and/or three liters of wine.