Premier Wine and Spirits

[TimG]

How does Premier Wine and Spirits (and other similar 'non NSLC' stores) work? Can they just import whatever they'd like for sale in NS?

For example, if they have enough requests for a certain microbrew from the US/Canada can they simply call up a brewery and request some pallets/cases be shipped direct for sale in their store? Has anybody spoken to them about special orders (always looking to expand my beer pallet / tasting experiences)?

How often do they have new beer options in stock?

Tim

[moxie]

I think they must be somewhat limited in what they sell by the NSLC, but from what I have seen, their stock doesn't really change too much over time. Is there a particular beer you are looking for?

[TimG]

Not really anything specific, just a big fan of hoppy beers and like trying new versions/flavours.

[Jimmy]

I was in a month or so ago, and the guy working the counter told me they were going to be bringing in new beer on a more frequent basis this year...we shall see...

[derek]

The only outright prohibition I know of, is that they may not import anything the NSLC lists. However, that includes things like the Trademy they've been talking about - NSLC has had it in the catalog for months, even though they know they won't get it and can't sell it. So Premier is SOL on that one.

But everything these guys buy has to come through the NSLC warehouses, and the NSLC has a horrible habit of refusing to release product from the warehouse for any reason or none. I remember talking to the folks at Premier when they were only a year or so old, about their supply of Rose wines. They're generally supposed to be drunk within a year - and they had nothing under two years old. They complained that NSLC held it in the warehouse until they could sell their own supplies. And since the NSLC doesn't care that they should be sold young, that meant Premier was stuck trying to sell two and three year old wines.