Liquor store independent of Costco

When is Costco Liquor not Costco Liquor? When it’s with Colorado Springs’ first Costco membership warehouse. The Springs Costco can’t carry liquor because of Colorado law. (A bill that would have allowed grocery and convenience stores to sell wine and full-strength beer failed last week in the Senate Judiciary Committee.) There is a liquor store adjoining the new Costco, but it is not part of Costco. “It’s a third party completely independent of Costco,” said Springs Costco manager John Wynns.

Whole Foods sacking its plastic bags

Whole Foods Market is ending the use of disposable plastic grocery bags at the checkouts in all of its 270 stores in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom. Its goal is to be plastic bag-free by April 22, Earth Day. Whole Foods has two Colorado Springs stores.

For years, Whole Foods Market has encouraged shoppers to bring their own bags by offering a refund of either five or 10 cents at the checkouts, depending on the store. The company sells different types of reusable bags and will continue to offer an “environmentally sensitive” option – 100 percent recycled paper grocery bags.

“Central to Whole Foods Market’s core values is caring for our communities and the environment, and this includes adopting wise environmental practices,” said A.C. Gallo, co-president and chief operating officer for Whole Foods Market.

Safeway fleet converts to biodiesel

Safeway Inc. has converted its entire U.S. fleet of more than 1,000 trucks to cleaner-burning biodiesel fuel. The company says the decision will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 75 million pounds annually, the equivalent of taking nearly 7,500 passenger vehicles off the road each year. In Colorado, the program will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 3.6 million pounds, said Scott Grimmett, president of Safeway’s Denver division.