Costco unable to reform wine laws

ISSAQUAH, Wash. Costco was dealt a setback in its effort to change laws regulating distribution of wine in its home state of Washington.

ANinth Circuit appellate court judge ruled that the laws regulating wine distribution – when taken as a whole – do not violate anti-trust laws as Costco’s 2004 lawsuit contends. Costco was seeking to reform several provisions in Washington’s distribution law, including one that doesn’t allow suppliers to sell directly to retailers and give them volume discounts. Costco – the country’s largest wine retailer with $805 million in sales in 2006 – has not indicated if it would pursue further action in the case.