Oakland, CA. Saveway Corp., the third largest US grocery chain, announced today that they are adding beer taps along side the bulk containers of granola, mixed nuts, and gummy bears. Self serve taps, seen in pubs and taverns everywhere, will dispense the beer into returnable plastic bottles with a twist top. The selection of beers is from quality micro-beer companies in many varieties; stout, porter, ale, lager, and pilsner.
The aisle display of beer varieties will be reminiscent of an old English pub, kiosk style, and serviced by a Saveway brew master in company apron, smiling face, and beer making and dispensing certification. The brew master will verify age identification, assist with bottle fills, and give out two-ounce samples (limit two). The look and feel of the bulk beer area will be like the cousin coffee kiosk, that is like a store within a store.
Saveway is test marketing the beer kiosk on the west coast of the US and if this proves successful the program will be expanded to the twenty-three states currently served by the company. A substantial amount of legal fees and beer gratuities were dispensed prior to the approval of the sales mechanism by the liquor Control Commissions for all three western coastal states. A jolly shopper is expected to spend an additional fifteen percent on groceries after a visit to the beer kiosk.
