NSLC profits dip, but sales of local drinks rise

The Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. says sales of certain products increased in its most recent quarter but its profits took a dip.

The Crown corporation says sales between April 1 and June 29 reached $144.4 million, a decrease of $2.8 million when compared with the same period last year.

Profits dropped $2.1 million to $55 million.

The total volume of alcohol sold also fell 2.5 per cent, but the corporation says sales of Nova Scotia ciders, craft beers and wines are on the rise.

Spokesperson Mike Maloney says changing demographics in the province is behind a general trend over the past few years of dropping sales. But things like craft beer are proving more popular up nearly 30 per cent.

"It's a barometer of what's going on in the marketplace," he says. "We're primarily the retailer for alcohol in the province, but keep in mind, a lot of craft beer is sold only locally, you can only get it from your local brewer or from a few select bars."

Local ciders had an even bigger increase up 71 per cent, local wines are up just one per cent, but that's on top of last year's 25 per cent increase.