Costco Woos Washington Voters to Sell Liquor in Stores

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August 10, 2010

It should be no surprise that Costco –– whose name private label and national brand liquor sales are flourishing in other locales -- is at the forefront of Initiative 1100, which seeks voter approval for retailers to sell liquor.

The Issaquah-based wholesale club spearheaded a signature gathering campaign to get the Initiative 1100 on the November ballot, a measures asking voters to allow retailers to sell liquor, according to the Seattle Post Intelligencer.

Although it takes 241,000 signatures to get a measure on the ballot in Washington, and the signature campaign gathered nearly 400,000, according to the report.

In several states, such as California, Hawaii, Nevada and Georgia, Costco is realizing significant private label liquor sales gains and hopes to expand its ability to sell liquor in other states such as Washington. Liquor is sold at Costco under is Kirkland signature label as well as co-branded labels.

"The point is that we have many customers who rave about these products," Costco spokesman Joel Benoliel told SPI. And the state's liquor stores have "no interest in carrying a private label.”

Five years ago Costco introduced Kirkland signature vodka and it recently added tequila, which Benoliel said is extremely popular in California.

Read These Related Articles:

• Costco Kirkland Brand to Explode Over the Next Two Years
• Sam's Club Introduces Calle Azul Tequila
• Sam's Club Launches Its First Store Brand Spirit With Rue 33
• Costco Parades Kirkland's Value Versus National Brands
• Tesco Dramatically Expands Store Brand Wines

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