A sign in a Kroger supermarket in Nashville urges shoppers to sign up for a group urging lawmakers to change state law that limits wine sales to liquor stores.NASHVILLE – Supporters of allowing wine to be sold in retail food stores plan to kick off referendum petition drives in major Tennessee cities, including Chattanooga, on Monday.
A news conference is slated for 10 a.m. in Chattanooga at the Publix Super Market at 5928 Hixson Pike in Hixson.
Coordination of similar news conferences in Knoxville, Nashville, Memphis and Kingsport is being handled by Red White and Food, the nonprofit organization comprised of food retailers. The group waged a years-long struggle in the state Legislature to change Tennessee law to allow wine sales in food stores.
Red White and Food board members representing a variety of retail food stores will officially kick off the effort and will discuss the petition approval process. They will be joined by state lawmakers, including those who sponsored the referendum legislation.
In Chattanooga, state House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, will join Brenda Reid, media relations manager for Publix, and speak at the news conference.