Applicants looking to sell alcohol for retail sale to the public must obtain either a Convenience Store or Grocery Store Licence. Each licence permits the retail sale of beer, wine (including cider), and ready-to-drink beverages. Each licence has specific eligibility requirements and definitions as set out in O.Reg. 746/21, which you should review before submitting your application to identify the appropriate licence to apply for your store.

For ease of reference, the following is a summary of the definitions of a “convenience store” and a “grocery store”: 

CONVENIENCE STORE DEFINITION

GROCERY STORE DEFINITION

  • The store must consist of no more than 4,000 square feet of retail floor space*
  • Food products offered for retail sale at the store (excluding prepared food products that may be consumed on site) must occupy at least half of the retail floor space
  • Must offer a variety of at least five of the following types of food products for in-person retail sale, other than prepared food products that may be consumed on site:
    1. canned food,
    2. dry food,
    3. frozen food,
    4. fresh fruits,
    5. fresh vegetables,
    6. meat or meat alternatives,
    7. dairy or dairy alternatives,
    8. non-alcoholic beverages,
    9. baked goods, and
    10. snack foods
  • The store is not  primarily identified to the public as a pharmacy

 

  • The store must consist of more than 4,000 square feet of retail floor space*
  • Food products offered for retail sale at the store (excluding prepared food products that may be consumed on site) must occupy:
    • at least 10,000 square feet of the retail floor space, or
    • at least half of the retail floor space
  • Must offer a variety of each of the following types of food products for in-person retail sale, other than prepared food products that may be consumed on site:
    1. canned food,
    2. dry food,
    3. frozen food,
    4. fresh fruits,
    5. fresh vegetables,
    6. meat or meat alternatives,
    7. dairy or dairy alternatives,
    8. non-alcoholic beverages,
    9. baked goods, and
    10. snack foods
  • The store is not primarily identified to the public as a pharmacy

*“Retail floor space” means any indoor space that is fully enclosed by walls in which products or services are offered for sale to the public.

During the application process, you will be asked to confirm a variety of eligibility requirements including:

  • The square footage of your retail floor space;
  • What portion of your retail floor space your food products occupy;
  • The variety of food products offered for in-person retail sale; and
  • Whether your store is or is not primarily identified to the public as a pharmacy under the Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act, 1990.