Hundreds of Tenn. grocery stores approved for wine sales

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Alcoholic Beverage Commission has announced that more than half of the Tennessee grocery stores that applied to sell wine under a new state liquor law have received a license to do so.

ABC executive director Clay Byrd tells media outlets that among retailers that have received retail food store licenses to sell wine starting July 1 are 72 Kroger stores, 104 Wal-Mart stores and 16 Sam’s Clubs.

As of last week, the ABC had received 499 applications, sent 398 conditional letters of approval and delivered 279 retail food store licenses. Conditional letters of approval allow retailers to accept delivery and stock wine, but they need the retail food store license to begin selling wine on July 1.

Lawmakers approved the wine-in-grocery stores legislation in 2014. The ABC started accepting applications from retailers in January.