Liquor Industry Update: January 25, 2024

Dear ABLE BC members and industry colleagues,
Here’s what you’ll find in today’s update:

  • An Update from ABLE BC’s LRS Policy Committee

  • ABLE BC’s Post Holiday Reception with Minister Farnworth

  • Celebrating 20 Years of ABLE BC!

  • ABLE BC’s Executive Director Jeff Guignard Presentation in Comox February 8

  • Save BC Restaurants

  • LDB Inventory Count: February 8-11

  • Mullen Group to Acquire ContainerWorld

  • Save Money & Make Informed Decisions with Global Payments

  • Cannabis Corner: Help Support our Advocacy Efforts

  • go2HR on Tap: Unlocking BC’s Tourism and Hospitality Potential

  • Out and About with ABLE BC

An Update from ABLE BC's LRS Policy Committee

This week, ABLE BC’s LRS Policy Committee convened its first meeting of 2024. The Committee—which is Chaired by ABLE BC Director Mike McKee (JAKS)—discussed a range of topics and policies impacting BC’s private liquor retailers, including:

  • Shifting consumer trends, including decreased overall spending and increased sales of non-alcoholic beverages;

  • Distribution inefficiency, particularly for non-stocked products (NSWP);

  • Outdated IT systems and processes at LDB Wholesale;

  • Unfair retail practices and pricing strategies from BC Liquor Stores, particularly with BC Select products;

  • Unequal allocation or exclusivity on in-demand SKUs;

  • Ending the LDB’s monopoly on distributing RTDs;

  • SKUs available for single-bottle picks;

  • Data transparency from the LDB;

  • Challenges with the Minors as Agents Program;

  • Enforcement issues, such as Rural Agency Stores exceeding 50 per cent of shelf space allocated to liquor sales and FPs delivering alcohol without a meal; and  

  • Possible new opportunities to increase sales and enhance profitability.

The LRS Policy Committee meets monthly to discuss progress on ABLE BC’s policy priorities and to monitor current industry issues. To raise an issue with the committee directly, please contact ABLE BC’s Executive Director, Jeff Guignard, at jeff@ablebc.ca

The LRS Policy Committee is seeking new members. Participating in ABLE BC’s policy committees is an excellent way to get more involved with our policy work, have an influence on our priorities, and support the Alliance.

If you are an ABLE LRS member in good standing and are interested in joining, please contact jeff@ablebc.ca for more information.

ABLE BC’s Post Holiday Reception with Minister Farnworth

Join ABLE BC's Board of Directors, staff, and local industry professionals for an evening of fun as we celebrate the end of another busy and successful holiday season!  

We will be joined by special guest, the  Honourable Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. Come and hear directly from Minister Farnworth on his plans for liquor and cannabis policy reform. 

Light refreshments and beverages will be available.

This event is generously sponsored by  Labatt Brewing.

Event details:

  • Date:  Thursday, February 1, 2024

  • Time:  5:00-7:00 pm

  • Location:  Labatt Beer Institute, 406-1148 Homer Street, Vancouver

  • RSVP here

Celebrating 20 Years of ABLE BC!

2024 is a big year for ABLE BC! While our history stretches back nearly 50 years to 1975 with the founding of the BC Neighbourhood Pub Owners’ Association, ABLE BC as it is known today was incorporated in March 2004.

In response to government’s need for a single point of contact for liquor issues, the BC Liquor Licensees & Retailers’ Association (formerly the BC Neighbourhood Pub Owners’ Association), the BC & Yukon Hotels’ Association, and the BC Cabaret Owners’ Association merged to create BC’s Alliance of Beverage Licensees (ABLE BC). The new association united the voices of the province’s liquor licensees, creating a strong impact on government and ensuring our success when fighting for members’ needs.

For the past 20 years, ABLE’s mandate has remained the same: we advocate on behalf of liquor (and now cannabis retail) licensees with all levels of government for business-friendly policy and regulation.

We pride ourselves on our long history of leadership, championing liquor licensees, fostering positive and productive relationships with government officials and stakeholders, and most of all of serving our members and working to protect your investment in this industry we all adore.

We are excited to highlight key moments, influential ABLE members, and historic policy wins from the past 20 years throughout 2024. Do you have a story to share about your own history with ABLE BC? Get in touch with ann@ablebc.ca and you could be featured in our newsletter and social channels.

Join us in celebrating ABLE BC! And stay tuned for an anniversary party announcement.

ABLE BC’s Executive Director Jeff Guignard Presentation in Comox February 8

Attention Island members!

Comox Business in Action’s (BIA) Business Matters Speaker & Mixer Seriesfeatures workshop sessions and meetings, coupled with mixers, from leading industry speakers to support business enhancement, information sharing, and networking opportunities.

ABLE BC’s Executive Director Jeff Guignard will present at the Tips, Trends, and Tackling Challenges for Food and Beverage Businesses on February 8, 2024, alongside Ian Tostenson, President of the BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association.

Join Jeff and Ian to explore key industry trends and economics driving the F&B sector. Dive into challenges around labour force, unionization, liquor license policies, product distribution channels, and learn what the province is doing to tackle these issues head on.

Event details:

  • Date:  Thursday, February 8, 2024

  • Time:  9:00-11:00 am

  • Location:  Church St Taphouse, 215 Church Street, Comox

  • Register here

Save BC Restaurants 

Our industry partners at the BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association (BCRFA) and Restaurants Canada have launched a new campaign, Save BC Restaurants, aimed at raising awareness of the challenges facing BC’s hospitality industry.

 BC is home to over 15,000 restaurants and foodservice vendors, employing over 185,000

workers across the province. The $18 billion in annual sales brought in by those businesses play a key role in supporting BC workers, families, and vital industries such as agriculture, transportation, and tourism.

 At the heart of the campaign is the ‘Unhappy Hour’ menu, a document listing many shocking statistics about the current state of BC’s restaurant sector. Key stats include the fact that over 50% of foodservice and hospitality businesses are currently unprofitable and restaurant bankruptcies have increased by 48% over the last ten months.

 BCRFA and Restaurants Canada will be hosting virtual town hall meetings with restaurants and elected officials. Click here for more information.

LDB Inventory Count: February 8-11

The BC Liquor Distribution Branch’s (LDB) distribution centres in  Delta and  Kamloops will conduct a mandatory physical inventory count from  Thursday, February 8 through Sunday, February 11, 2024. 

The distribution centres will not be fulling orders during the inventory count.

Wholesale/Hospitality customers serviced by WCC Vancouver

You may place orders during this period; however, orders will not be processed until the count is completed. 

You will not receive Order Submission Reports from 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday, January 31 until operations resume on Monday, February 12.

Returns will not be processed from Monday, February 5 to Sunday, February 11, inclusive. 

During the inventory count at the LDB distribution centres, and those at third-party warehouses, you may experience a delay in receiving non-stocked wholesale product (NSWP).

Your location’s order time or delivery day will not be impacted by the annual inventory count, unless you receive a separate notification email from WCC Vancouver advising of any changes. WCC will email impacted customers of any changes to their shipping schedule.

The Vancouver WCC will be open during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Hospitality customers serviced by BCLIQUOR (BCL)

Hospitality customers serviced by BCLIQUOR (BCL) stores may continue to place orders during the inventory count, but only product stocked in the store can be fulfilled until the count is completed.

During this time, products that are fulfilled directly from the distribution centres and non-stocked wholesale product (NSWP) may be delayed.

Hospitality customers serviced by WCC Victoria

Customers may place orders during the inventory count, but only product stocked in the WCC Victoria can be fulfilled until the count is complete.

During this time, products that are fulfilled directly from the distribution centres and non-stocked wholesale product (NSWP) may be delayed.

The Victoria WCC will be open during regular business hours, Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to assist you.

Mullen Group to Acquire ContainerWorld

Mullen Group LTD., a major Canadian logistics provider, has announced its intent to acquire ContainerWorld Forwarding Services Inc., a logistics firm specializing in the alcoholic beverage and hospitality sectors.

The acquisition is anticipated to be finalized in the second quarter of 2024, pending regulatory approval and customary closing conditions. Dennis Chrismas, the founder of ContainerWorld, will continue to lead the company post-acquisition.

Click here for more information.

Save Money & Make Informed Decisions with Global Payments

ABLE BC is pleased to partner with Global Payments to help you save money on your merchant services.

Using the collective power of the ABLE BC network, we can secure favourable payment processing rates for our members.

Connect with Global Payments today to see how much you could save and see how easy a switch can be!

Saving money is only the beginning! Better information can help you make better decisions for your business.

Clarity and Transparency:

Does your merchant statement make it easy to see how much you are paying for payment processing each month?

Global Payments statements are designed to help you find the information you need quickly and easily, at a glance. It's easy to read and navigate, delivering the information you need in a clear, organized format.

Read the Global Payments Statement Guide to see just how easy it is to work with a Global Payments merchant statement.

Reporting Made Easy:

The Global Payments Merchant Portal is an extensive online data management platform, designed to make it simple to find the information that helps you to better understand your customers and make informed business decisions. 

Transaction reporting and management is easily accessible via the Global Payments Merchant Portal. The reporting application provides an easy way to locate the important transaction information for your business, using an intuitive dashboard, transaction finder, and built-in self-service tools.

Support When You Need It:

Global Payments offers extensive online self-service tools, local sales teams, and live industry-leading support when you need it - 24/7/365.

Cannabis Corner: Help Support Our Advocacy Efforts

As ABLE BC works to support BC’s private cannabis retailers, we meet regularly with various officials at the LDB, LCRB, and with elected officials in the federal, provincial, and municipal governments.

To support your businesses, ABLE BC is advocating on behalf of members with the provincial government and municipalities to implement mandatory distance rules between new cannabis stores (including government stores). ABLE BC has a proven track record of success in the liquor store and pub industry. We have seen the value and positive impact on protecting existing licensed businesses by rolling out and upholding a door-to-door distance criteria, such as protected revenues, accessible banking, and increased value in your licensed asset.

Want to get involved in our cannabis advocacy? To join our Cannabis Committee or sign up as a member, contact our Head of Cannabis Membership Bo Chen at  bo@ablebc.ca.

Join ABLE BC Cannabis Today!

go2HR on Tap: Unlocking BC’s Tourism and Hospitality Potential

go2HR is a regular contributor to the ABLE BC Liquor Industry Update newsletter, providing tips and guidance on current HR trends, new legislation, employee recruitment and retention, and more. To read the latest instalment, sign in to the member portal or sign up for the newsletter.

Out and About with ABLE BC

Last week, ABLE’s Communications Manager Ann Brydle joined the rest of the team in Vancouver for two days of 2024 strategic planning and team building. We’re excited about our plans for this year and are looking forward to improving member services!

ABLE’s Executive Director Jeff Guignard and Head of Cannabis Membership Bo Chen recently met with Minister Farnworth to discuss the financial health of the cannabis industry. This was a positive and productive discussion and we are encouraged by Minister Farnworth’s commitment to positive policy changes. You can read more about this meeting here. And to stay up to date on our cannabis advocacy work, make sure to sign up for the Cannabis Industry Update Newsletter.  

ABLE BC’s Executive Director Jeff Guignard appeared in the following media recently:

Ann Brydle