New York democrats push to allow wine sales in supermarkets

New York democrats push to allow wine sales in supermarkets

by Nicolas Dubina

Thu, June 5th 2025 at 7:44 PM

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York democrats and business leaders gathered at the state capital to advocate for a bill that could end the state's long-standing prohibition on wine sales in supermarkets. Since the 1930s, New Yorkers have been unable to purchase wine at supermarkets, a restriction still in place in only 10 states.

Joseph Alston, Director of Government Affairs for The Business Council of New York State, said, "This is literally a common sense bill, and it’s been a while. 1934. That’s a long time. The world has changed, and we're not in prohibition anymore."

The proposed state assembly bill introduced by Democrats would allow licensed supermarkets to sell wine in sealed containers, such as bottles and cans. The bill also includes measures to protect liquor store owners, who fear the change could negatively impact their sales.

Assemblymember Pam Hunter, representing the 128th District in Syracuse, explained, "We put in a 500-foot rule where an established grocery store cannot be in proximity of an established liquor store of 500 feet."

Some residents, like Butch, who did not provide a last name, expressed support for the bill. "Well it took them long enough. They’ve been doing it out west for years it’s a great idea, what took you so long?" he said.

Butch also addressed concerns about potential impacts on liquor stores, saying, "Well being a loyal customer here if they keep the prices it's not gonna hurt, because you know the grocery stores are gonna jack it up through the roof and it's going to be a convenience thing. So I don’t see a problem with that at all, none."

Mark, another resident who did not provide a last name, added, "It might but competition is good. They can start selling other things, coke, pepsi whatever."

Supermarkets argue the change will create new jobs. Nelson Eusebio, Director of Government Affairs for the National Supermarket Association, said, "We're going to hire more people at supermarkets. We’re going to hire more people to deliver the product. We’re going to hire more people to warehouse the product."

Democrats are pushing for a vote on the bill before the legislative session ends in a week. Liz Krueger, a New York State Senator from the 28th District in Manhattan, commented on the bill's prospects, "Never be confident until all the votes have been counted in Albany. But this is farther along than we have ever been before. And we amended the bill, so it addresses many many of the concerns that Pam and I were hearing from the industry, and businesses and consumers around the state."

The bill would also allow supermarkets to hold wine tastings, further expanding their offerings.

SuperFresh, KeyFood and other NYC grocers make push to sell wine in their stores

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The National Supermarket Association (NSA), which represents independent supermarkets across NYC -- including Superfresh, KeyFood, Met Foodmarkets, Foodtown and at least 34 other stores -- is urging lawmakers to modernize state liquor laws and allow grocery stores to sell wine.

“For decades, our supermarkets have served as the cornerstone of food access in New York’s underserved neighborhoods,” Nelson Eusebio, director of government relations for the NSA, noted in a press release. “We are not corporate giants -- we are small, family-owned businesses fighting to survive in an increasingly difficult market. Allowing grocery stores to sell wine is not just about fairness; it’s about ensuring the survival of the independent supermarkets that so many communities rely on.”

The NSA argued that the current prohibition on wine sales in grocery stores is an outdated policy that harms consumers, local grocers and New York’s own wine industry.

“With operating costs rising and competition from corporate chains and online retailers increasing, independent grocers are being denied an important revenue opportunity that could help them remain competitive and keep prices affordable for customers,” the press release continued.

The push for wine sales in NYC grocery stores is not new: Similar bills have been floated in the past but have not succeeded, thanks in part to strong opposition from liquor store owners.

“We only sell two products -- wine and liquor,” Michael Correra, a Bay Ridge liquor store owner and the executive director of the Metropolitan Package Store Association, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to representing the business interests of more than 3,000 liquor stores in New York state, told the Advance/SILive last year when a similar bill was being considered.

“Taking one of those products away would kill us,” Correra continued. “There is a tremendous amount of empty stores throughout the city and state already; the last thing we need is more.”

Correra, who voiced his opposition to this new bill in his monthly newsletter, said the legislation is in the best interest of “billionaire-backed supermarkets,” not the small store owners who rely on wine sales to stay afloat.

“Big box supermarkets, including Wegmans, ShopRite, Stop & Shop, and Whole Foods (which is owned by Amazon), are once again propelling legislation posing a serious threat to independent, family-owned liquor stores …,” he noted. “We’ve seen the harmful effects of Wine in Groceries (WIGS) in Colorado, where independent package stores have been forced to close, causing hundreds to lose their jobs so far… According to the Denver Gazette, industry experts speculate as many as 400 local wine and liquor stores in the state will close by 2026.”

But the NSA refuted those claims, pointing to a report by John Dunham & Associates that found that independent liquor stores continued to succeed by focusing on curated selections, craft spirits and personalized customer service.

And many lawmakers are already on board.

“New York’s laws around wine sales haven’t been updated in nearly a century, and it’s time for a real conversation about modernizing them in a way that benefits everyone -- small business owners, consumers, and wineries alike,” said New York State Sen. Leroy Comrie.

Assemblymember Stefani Zinerman called the legislation a “win for consumers, local businesses, and our state’s thriving wine industry.”

“This reform will make life more convenient for working families while providing a much-needed boost to New York’s vineyards and wineries, helping them flourish in a competitive market,” Zinerman said. “It’s time for New York to join the majority of the country in embracing this practical and beneficial change.”

National Supermarket Association opens New England branch

The National Supermarket Association, a trade association representing over 700 independently owned supermarkets, will open headquarters in downtown Providence, Rhode Island for its newly established New England chapter. The NSA is making its investment in Providence without any economic or tax incentives from the state or city.

Founded in 1989, the National Supermarket Association is a trade association representing the interests of independent grocery stores across the East Coast. Today’s announcement caps over eighteen months of discussions between Lieutenant Governor Matos and NSA leadership, during which the Lieutenant Governor has advocated for the selection of Rhode Island for NSA’s headquarters based on the state’s central location, competitive business costs, and rich talent pool. 

Through membership with the NSA, grocery stores can access exclusive vendor programs, receive technical assistance, benefit from proactive and reduced-rate food safety inspections, and participate in other programs meant to reduce supply and administrative costs and keep their products affordable. Over 700 grocery stores from Massachusetts to Florida are already members of the NSA. Independent grocery stores create 3,000 jobs and over $420 million in annual sales in Rhode Island, and over $15 billion in annual sales across New England. 

The NSA specializes in opening grocery stores in communities and neighborhoods which are underserved by traditional grocery chains. In Rhode Island, over one in four census tracts are designated as low income and low access to fresh food, and nearly half of all Rhode Islanders of color live in one of these neighborhoods. As part of its work in the region, the NSA will seek opportunities to eliminate food deserts by bringing locally owned grocery stores with affordable, nutritious, and culturally relevant food to these underserved areas.

National Supermarket Association Announces the selection of Seny Taveras J.D. as their new Executive Director

New York Tech and National Supermarket Association Team Up to Support Access to Education

New York Institute of Technology and the National Supermarket Association (NSA), a trade association representing more than 200 members who own 400 supermarkets in New York and other cities throughout the East coast, Mid-Atlantic region, and Florida, are teaming up to help provide access to education to NSA members, their employees, and their families. 

The related missions of the two organizations provide a strong foundation for this collaboration. The NSA, founded in 1989 by Hispanic entrepreneurs, is committed to supporting education for its members’ approximately 20,000 employees and their families. For more than 60 years, New York Tech has been guided by its mission to provide all qualified students access to opportunity to receive a career-oriented professional education and is recognized for the diversity and social mobility of its student body. 

Beginning with the spring 2023 semester, NSA will promote information about New York Tech undergraduate programs to its members, their employees, and their families. New York Tech’s School of Management M.B.A. programs will also be promoted in this relationship. Accepted students are eligible for scholarships; NSA scholarships will cover at least 25 percent of related students’ full-time tuition.

“As we work to develop new channels and opportunities to provide access to education, New York Tech is committed to actively engaging with employers such as NSA to create pathways for traditional and nontraditional students seeking a college education,” said Jerry Balentine, D.O., provost and executive vice president at New York Tech. “This partnership model is one we hope to emulate with additional employers, and we applaud NSA for advocating for education among its members and their employees.”

“Our entrepreneurial drive led us to open supermarkets a few decades ago in what had been economically depressed, primarily minority neighborhoods. Today, this same vision that strengthened and enhanced our communities extends in many ways, including our dedication to helping people earn a college degree. We believe that our community members interested in pursuing higher education will find a place for themselves at New York Tech,” said Samuel Collado, NSA president.

The two organizations will also work together to provide internship, experiential learning, and other career-related opportunities. For example, NSA will be invited to New York Tech career fairs and related events, and NSA members will consider qualified New York Tech candidates for internships and job opportunities. The two will also collaborate on fundraising efforts in support of student scholarships, and NSA will encourage its members to support New York Tech’s Grizzly Cupboard food pantries, part of the Bear Bytes initiative, which provides students with food as well as health and wellness resources and information.

“A deep relationship between an organization such as NSA and New York Tech in multiple areas, including access to academic programs for NSA employees, internships and career opportunities for New York Tech students, and professional development and employee training for the supermarket owners, provides tremendous benefits to both organizations,” said Rajendra Tibrewala, professor of operations and supply chain management in the School of Management, who spearheaded the effort to develop the university’s relationship with NSA. 

ANNOUNCING THE COLLECTIVE ACTION TO PROTECT OUR STORES” COALITION

For Immediate Release 
Date: January 9, 2023

ANNOUNCING THE COLLECTIVE ACTION TO PROTECT OUR STORES” COALITION

Led By National Supermarket Association, Initial Members Are The Bodega and Small Business Group, and the Metro Supermarket Association

 Coalition Will Call Attention and Demand Changes to Protect Retail from Rising Theft

NEW YORK -  With supermarkets, bodegas, grocery stores and other retail suffering under an INCREASE IN GRAND LARCENY, a coalition called Collective Action to Protect our Stores (CAPS) has come together to demand changes and accountability so workers and consumers are safe when shopping. The coalition is led by the independent supermarkets of the National Super Market Association and the founding members are the National Supermarket Association, the Bodega and Small Business Group, and the Metro Supermarket Association. The coalition announced itself in a letter to Gov. Hochul, Mayor Adams, and state and city legislative leaders and members. 

As the letter says: “New Yorkers expect and deserve to feel safe when they shop– but right now, for too many, they simply do not. This impacts the stores that lose money, workers who are harmed, and consumers who are worried about feeling safe to shop. This is an entirely untenable situation, and something must be done to rectify it before more stores close or workers are harmed.  As you set forth your visions in the State of the State and State of the City, we urge you to take these recommendations under consideration. We expect more organizations and companies to join us in the weeks and months ahead.” 

The coalitions asks are:

NYPD AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY UNITS: Dedicated NYPD Unit and DA Units for retail theft.

HARM ON HARM: Call on prosecutors to use harm on harm to request bail for repeat theft offenders, and we call on judges to use this tool (harm on harm) to set bail.

SUPPORT FOR KEY LEGISLATION:

Raise assaults on retail employees and owners to a class D felony. 

Call for legislation to combine charges to upcharge theft (from petit larceny to grand larceny).

Support Albany legislation to create a new offense of fostering the sale of stolen goods and make it a class A misdemeanor.

PSA CAMPAIGN: New York City should launch and run a public service announcement (PSA) campaign against shoplifting.

ACCOUNTABILITY: No more finger-pointing.  We must hold every level of the criminal justice system accountable for doing their part to tackle this issue, including NYPD, DAs, Judges and elected officials.

The full text of the letter is below

Collective Action to Protect our Stores


Governor Kathy Hochul

Mayor Eric Adams 

Speaker Carl Heastie

Leader Stewart-Cousins

Speaker Adrienne Adams 

Acting Chief Judge Anthony Cannataro

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg

Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz

Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon

To New York’s Leaders:

New York City’s independent supermarkets, bodegas, and grocers are the backbones of our communities. We employ thousands of New Yorkers, and every day we provide New Yorkers with access to fresh produce, necessary home goods like diapers and formula, and other items families need.

We take our responsibility seriously.  During the height of the pandemic, we were essential workers who risked our lives to keep this city alive. We lost people in those early days of Covid, but we are proud of our work. Beyond Covid, when the big stores pulled out of New York City in the 70’s and ’80s, we were the ones who stepped in to make sure these communities were not without access to food. We also look like the communities we serve. We are people of color and immigrants from all over the world. We love our communities because we are our communities. 

However, we are in trouble. A rise in larceny cases has hit independent supermarkets hard. Indeed, some have hired private security. Some robberies have been as high as $72,000. We have been assaulted, terrorized, and our physical and mental health jeopardized. 

That is why we are writing you today to announce the formation of the Collective Action to Protect our Stores (CAPS), initially made up of:

 
National Supermarket Association

Bodega and Small Business Group 

Metro Supermarket Association 

THE GOALS OF OUR COALITION ARE SIMPLE.

NYPD AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY UNITS: Dedicated NYPD Unit and DA Units for retail theft.

HARM ON HARM: Call on prosecutors to use harm on harm to request bail for repeat theft offenders, and we call on judges to use this tool (harm on harm) to set bail.

SUPPORT FOR KEY LEGISLATION:

Raise assaults on retail employees and owners to a class D felony. 

Call for legislation to combine charges to upcharge theft (from petit larceny to grand larceny).

Support Albany legislation to create a new offense of fostering the sale of stolen goods and make it a class A misdemeanor.

PSA CAMPAIGN: New York City should launch and run a public service announcement (PSA) campaign against shoplifting.

ACCOUNTABILITY: No more finger-pointing.  We must hold every level of the criminal justice system accountable for doing their part to tackle this issue, including NYPD, DAs, Judges and elected officials.

New Yorkers expect and deserve to feel safe when they shop– but right now, for too many, they simply do not. This impacts the stores that lose money, workers who are harmed, and consumers who are worried about feeling safe to shop. This is an entirely untenable situation, and something must be done to rectify it before more stores close or workers are harmed. 

As you set forth your visions in the State of the State and State of the City, we urge you to take these recommendations under consideration. We expect more organizations and companies to join us in the weeks and months ahead. As New York’s political leaders, we look forward to working with you to make our communities safer and ensure our stores and customers feel comfortable coming to work and entering our stores. 

Signed:

National Supermarket Association

Bodega and Small Business Group 

Metro Supermarket Association 

CC:

Members of the Senate 

Members of the Assembly

Members of the New York City Council

###

The National Supermarket Association (NSA) Celebrated its 33rd Anniversary with a Breaking Barriers Theme, Highlighting Member of the Year Company of the Year

The National Supermarket Association (NSA) Celebrated its 33rd Anniversary with a Breaking Barriers Theme, Highlighting Member of the Year Anthony Pena and Company of the Year Cibao Meat Products

Foxwoods Resorts Casino, CT – On Saturday, December 3, the National Supermarket Association hosted its Annual Gala, celebrating 33 years of operations and breaking barriers.   The Annual Gala was a tremendous success; it was attended by nearly 1,000 NSA members, industry leaders, corporate supporters, politicians, and community leaders. 

Every year the National Supermarket Association recognizes one of its members with the NSA Eligio Peña Member of the Year Award. This year the award was given to Anthony Peña, who demonstrated a significant commitment to the Association and a passion for helping others. Anthony Pena chaired the NSA trade show host committee and organized one of the most successful events.  

The Company of the Year Award was given to Cibao Meat Products, a longtime partner of the Association who has delivered excellent customer service and has a passion for giving back to our communities. Cibao Meat Products has set itself apart as a leader in the industry by providing high-quality meats for over 50 years.  

The NSA also announced the partnership with Goya Cares, a global initiative to combat human trafficking.  NSA Cares raised $10,000 during the gala through guest donations, which was then matched by Goya, NSA, and Cibao Meat Products 

“It is an honor and a privilege to serve as President of the National Supermarket Association,” said the President of the National Supermarket Association, Samuel Collado. “I am thankful to our members who inspire me daily and our supporters - without them, we would not be where we are today.”

“Seeing the industry come together to celebrate the hard work of the association and the members that make up the association is extraordinary,” said Nallely de Jesus, Vice President and Chair of the gala committee. “Every year, the NSA family grows stronger and wider, and we look forward to continuing that growth into the next generation and beyond.” 

The National Supermarket Association Hosted First Women’s Forum with Industry Leaders and Government Representatives

New York, NY – The National Supermarket Association (NSA) is hosted their very first Women’s Forum on June 8th, 2022 at the TWA Hotel, from 8:30AM-4:00PM.  Women have been an integral part of the NSA’s growth. This event marks the culmination of cultivating an environment where women are recognized for their achievements. The pattern of women not receiving the proper credit for their work as leading entrepreneurs must be broken. NSA is dedicated to rebalancing a male dominated industry and shifting the scale to greater representation for women in leadership positions. This event marks the first gathering to recognize women continuing to pave the way in the industry.  NSA will be recognizing:

Industry Leader Honorees:

Zulema Wiscovitch, Co-President and Co-CEO at Associated Supermarket Group

Mayra Linares, Vice-President of Public Affairs and Communications for Liberty Coke

Generational Leaders Honorees:

Ursula Pena, Co-Founder of the NSA

Sixta Bueno, Owner-Operator and NSA Member

Iris Benzan-Diaz, Owner-Operator and NSA Member

Together with a special guest speaker Lindsay Greene, first female CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard. 

CRIME PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH, COMMON GOALS FOR NSA AND NYPD COMMISSIONER

Leaders of the National Supermarket Association (NSA) met with New York Police (NYPD) Commissioner Dermont Shea in recent days to seek solutions to the recent wave of robberies against its members’ grocery stores and to work on programs to help the community.

NSA President William Rodriguez, accompanied by members of the Board of Directors of the association that represents more than 400 independent supermarkets in New York and other cities on the East Coast, had the opportunity to dialogue with Commissioner Shea on issues of mutual interest.

According to a press release from the NSA, the meeting was also attended by the Chief of Patrol Bureau, Fausto Pichardo, who is the first Dominican-American to reach this position.

NSA leaders discussed with Commissioner Shea priority issues for the association, such as finding solutions to reduce the recent crime wave in their members’ stores.

“We had a very productive conversation that took place over the course of an hour in which we discussed high-level priorities, such as the recent increase in crime at our members’ stores, opportunities for partnership in our mutual efforts to reach out to youth, and ways we can work together to keep our communities safe,” said Rodriguez.

The National Supermarket Association expressed its support for the NYPD and its leadership personally thanked Commissioner Shea for the work of his officers during the pandemic and their tireless efforts to help keep neighborhoods safe. “NYC has been the safest big city in the world for a while and will continue to be so with the efforts of the NYPD,” the statement said.

“This meeting was a great first step in establishing a more formal relationship between NSA and NYPD. We look forward to working together now and in the future,” the NSA leadership said.