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Changing consumer habits and higher operating costs have officials at the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation looking for ways to spark up revenue.
That includes sales of cannabis, which jumped 9.3 per cent to $138.8 million in the 2025-26 fiscal year, said the Crown corporation Tuesday as it released its year-end financials.
The growth in cannabis sales comes amid a decline in the volume of beverage alcohol purchases, a trend that’s showing up in other places.
“We are always evaluating our business to make sure that we’re staying relevant,” said Terah McKinnon, spokesperson for the NSLC, in an interview.
“We’re always making shifts and changes.”
Net earnings drop for 2nd consecutive year
While the data showed gross sales are up by 1.1 per cent, net revenues dropped by 4.1 per cent.
Total sales for 2025-26 came in at $898.4 million, with $268.8 million in net earnings. It’s the second year in a row earnings have slipped.
Beverage alcohol sales totalled $759.5 million, down 0.2 per cent, while beverage alcohol transactions — the number of purchases — were also down, dipping 2.6 per cent compared to last year.
Cannabis transactions went in the opposite direction, increasing by four per cent. The average price per gram of cannabis decreased by two per cent to $5.83.
33 sites added cannabis last quarter
McKinnon said the corporation’s five-year strategic plan calls for further expansion of cannabis sales.
The NSLC added pot to 33 existing corporate stores in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year.
There are now 84 NSLC locations across the province that sell cannabis. McKinnon said finding ways to continue to expand, particularly within the existing footprint of stores, is a priority for the corporation.
Although sales were up at all purchase points for 2025-26, Tuesday’s numbers also reflect how things are changing.
Online sales increased 8.2 per cent in the last fiscal year. Private wine and specialty stores saw a sales increase of six per cent, sales at agency stores were up 2.7 per cent, and sales at NSLC retail stores were up 0.9 per cent.
Sales to bars, restaurants and pubs were up by 0.3 per cent.
Another change in 2025-26 was the introduction of non-alcoholic adult beverages at NSLC stores last fall.
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