​Vendor kicked out of Monday Market one day, re-instated the next

The Southampton Oil Company was kicked out of Kincardine’s Market in the Park, Monday, but had its vendor status re-instated Tuesday.

In a Facebook post, the company said that due to the complaints of a Kincardine business, the Municipality of Kincardine tore up the previously-approved seasonal agreement to attend the market.

“We’re sorry for us and even more sorry for you, our loyal Kincardine and area customers, who were able to pick up their bottles at the Market in the Park in previous years,” stated the post. “We're still here for you, seven days a week all year, for when you make the drive to Southampton!”

Kincardine’s acting chief administrative officer, Roxana Baumann, said Tuesday that the Southampton Oil Company was denied access as a vendor to Market in the Park due to concerns over creating competition for a local business.

“The matter has been re-evaluated by staff, and we have reached out to the vendor to offer our apologies,” she said, via E-mail. “The municipality currently does not have a policy in place to deny an application on the basis of competition, and therefore, the decision has been made to re-instate the vendor permit for 2022.

“We will be reviewing our policies over the course of the year, and possibly developing criteria for the 2023 season.”