HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's Crown liquor company is reporting a slight increase in profits in its first quarter.
From April 1 to July 1, the Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. recorded sales of $150.6 million compared to $148.7 million for the same period last year, an increase of 1.3 per cent.
It says the first quarter's net income was $58.6 million, an increase of $1.4 million compared to the same period last year.
CEO Bret Mitchell says wine sales showed the most growth, due in part to the introduction of local products.
Wholesale sales, such as those at bars, restaurants and stores, were $27.2 million, an increase of 1.4 per cent over last year.
But the total volume of alcohol sold in the first quarter is down 0.5 per cent from the same time last year.
The corporation generates more than half a billion dollars of revenue a year and employs more than 1,500 people in the province.
