Cider to be sold in 60 Ontario grocery stores starting today

Cider will hit the shelves today at 60 Ontario grocery stores already licensed to sell beer, sources tell CBC News.

It's the latest step inPremierKathleenWynne'sgradual liberalization ofalcohol sales in the province.CBC News has learned Wynne will announce the start of cider salesduring a news conference today at a supermarket in Waterloo.

• Wine, cider sales coming to Ontario supermarkets, Wynne promises
• Cider makers aim to compete with craft beer as sales soar
• Ontario says "Cheers!"to beerin grocery stores

Beer sales began last December at60 supermarkets scattered across Ontario. These locations will be the first to sell cider, starting today.

The government promised in February to allow cider sales in grocery stores, but at that time it didn't revealthe date sales could begin. The government has also promised that wine will be sold from the licensed supermarketsstarting thisfall.

Sources also say theLCBOwill today call for bids from grocery stores for another 70 locations to sell beer, cider and wine. The government's plan is eventually to license as many as 300 such locations, as well as another 150 supermarkets selling just beer and cider and 150 more selling just wine.

Supermarkets currently selling beer are subject to strict rulesabout location in the store andwho can handle it. Cider will be subject to the same rules.

Ontario's craft cider makers are pushingto get the level of attention for their product that the craft beer industry is receiving. For thoseunfamiliar with the issue, the Ontario Craft Cider Association even feels the need on its website to definecider: "a fermented alcoholic beverage made from apple or pear juice."

With an increasing presence at the LCBO, sales of Ontariociderhave shot up of late, totaling $17.6 million in the last fiscal year. But that pales in comparison to much smaller British Columbia, where cider sales totaled$74.5 million in 2015, according to theB.C. Liquor Distribution Branch.