Liquor Industry Update: October 5 , 2023
Dear ABLE BC Members and Industry Colleagues,
Here’s what you’ll find in today’s update:
Possible Increase to the LDB Price Change Frequency
Navigating Provincial and Federal Single-Use Plastic Regulations
ABLE BC Memberships have Lapsed! Renew Now to Regain Access to Free Resources
Exciting Opportunity: Hire Now for 2024!
Global Payments: Q2 Payments and Spending Outlook Report
go2HR on Tap: Meet Valerie Lister, go2HR’s Workplace Psychological Health & Safety (PH&S) Coach
Executive Director Jeff Guignard Speaking at Comox Business Matters, November 2
ABLE BC Member Webinar: LCRB Minors as Agents Program What You Need to Know – Thanks for Attending!
Magnums & More Wine Auction, October 1-21, 2023
Cannabis Corner with Nick Landells
Out and About with ABLE BC!
Save the Date: Upcoming Events and Webinars
Find all past updates here.
SPARK 2023 is Less Than Two Weeks Away!
If you haven't registered for SPARK: BC's Hotel & Liquor Conference yet, now is the time! Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from industry leaders and connect with your hospitality community. This event is tailored to empower and inspire hospitality and liquor operators across British Columbia, and is a great development opportunity for ALL within the hospitality industry.
Why Attend the SPARK Conference?
Stay on top of trends to boost your business and learn strategies from an array of industry experts.
Invest in yourself and your team by expanding your knowledge and connections through this development opportunity.
Try over 40 international and local products that you can bring to your business at the IVSA Tasting Salon Welcome Reception.
Make new connections and build relationships through networking opportunities.
This all-in-one conference is designed to support and empower you, your business, and your team. Dive into a rich array of topics, including automation's role in hospitality, liquor compliance best practices, strategies for recruitment, methods for customer service excellence, industry advocacy updates, diversity, equity, and inclusion, crisis communication strategies, and much more!
Join us to unlock the tools and strategies that will drive success in the hospitality and beverage sectors.
Click here for the full conference program.
Possible Increase to the LDB Price Change Frequency
The BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) only allows wholesale price changes once a month. You can view the current price calendar here.
To fit the current calendar, agents and manufacturers need to submit price changes 60 days in advance. This 60-day lead time doesn’t allow agents and manufacturers to include the fluctuating costs of shipping and other goods in their products. It also limits the number of times a product can be offered on Wholesale Price Promotion (or Limited Time Offer).
The LDB has been asked to consider increasing the price change frequency to weekly or twice a month.
To be clear, an increase in price change frequency does not mean that all products will see a price change at every price change date. It is unlikely this change would have a significant impact on labour and administration for hospitality and retail businesses (updating menu prices, shelf tags, and POS systems more frequently).
According to agents, this change would create more opportunity for discounted products. It could also create opportunities for deeper discounts and more profitable bridge buying opportunities. Retailers and agents would be better able to plan for seasonal sales and react to real-time cost fluctuation.
Please submit your thoughts here. This survey will close on October 20, 2023.
Navigating Provincial and Federal Single-Use Plastic Regulations
ABLE BC Memberships have Lapsed! Renew Now to Regain Access to Free Resources
ABLE BC memberships expired on August 31, 2023. If you haven’t renewed your membership yet, then you are at risk of losing access to free resources and exclusive services and pricing from our benefit providers.
Login to the Member Portal now to renew your membership!
If you aren’t sure how to login or you have questions about your renewal, please contact Ann Brydle, Manager of Membership and Communication, at ann@ablebc.ca.
Exciting Opportunity: Hire Now for 2024!
Don't miss this fantastic hiring opportunity! The BC Hotel Association (BCHA) is representing ABLE BC & BCHA members at the Destination Canada Mobility Forum, facilitating connections between Canadian employers and motivated French-speaking workers eager to work in Canada for Spring 2024.
Sign up now and let BCHA handle the vetting and recruitment process for you when they attend the forum on November 18th-24th, 2023.
Gain access to a pool of skilled and unskilled workers without the hassle or cost of LMIA applications.
Contact Alison Langford, BCHA Workforce Strategist, at Alison@bcha.com to participate and click here to learn more. Don’t up this opportunity to strengthen your workforce!
Global Payments: Q2 Payments and Spending Outlook Report
Did you know? Abbotsford recorded the highest sales growth with a whopping 90%, while Penticton showed a -69% growth in BC’s private liquor and cannabis industry.
Global Payments is a leader in payments, and they are extending their experience and expertise to ABLE BC members with access to a new report that shed light on the latest trends impacting BC’s private liquor and cannabis businesses.
The Q2 Payments and Spending Outlook report is aimed to keep you ahead of the curve and walk you through key analytics and insights pertaining to the liquor and cannabis industries, including bars and nightclubs, private liquor stores, and private cannabis retailers.
Click here to download the latest report. Once you opt in to receiving the report via email, keep an eye on your inbox, and junk folder (just in case), for new reports as they are available.
go2HR on Tap: Meet Valerie Lister, go2HR’s Workplace Psychological Health & Safety (PH&S) Coach
Did you know that you have FREE access to a Workplace Psychological Health & Safety (PH&S) Coach who is available to provide 1:1 coaching and resources for workplace mental health-related challenges?
go2HR is pleased to introduce Valerie Lister who recently joined the team in the position of Workplace Psychological Health & Safety (PH&S) Coach, through a partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association of BC(CMHA BC). The go2HR Workplace Psychological Health & Safety (PH&S) Coaches play an integral role in helping to develop and deliver industry-focused workplace mental health training, resources, and support for tourism and hospitality employers in BC.
As a trained RN, Counsellor, and Psychological Health and Safety Advisor, Valerie brings a wealth of experience to her role. She has effectively developed and led the implementation of psychological health safety practices in workplaces, including an international foodservices and facilities management company.
“I’m on a mission to fight stigma surrounding mental illness and am grateful to have the chance to share my passion for workplace mental health with the Tourism & Hospitality Industry. My experience has shown me that small actions can have a huge impact and seeing the positive ripple effects that this work can have on people, organizations, and communities is what drives me forward.”
If you are interested in learning more about how Valerie can help support workplace mental health and psychological health and safety (PH&S) for you and your team, at no cost, please contact her today for a 1:1 meeting.
While this is NOT a counselling service, Valerie can direct individuals and organizations to appropriate resources.
Employer Resources:
Recognizing and Addressing Burnout, a Safety Talk for Tourism – This 3-minute video and accompanying handout provides tips and resources to help identify and address the signs and symptoms of burnout in yourself and others. Share it with your employees today!
Workplace CARE Training – FREE, online workplace mental health training for tourism and hospitality employees, supervisors, and managers. Learn more and register today.
Questions? Reach out to go2HR's HR Consultants for free advice at hr@go2HR.ca . go2HR is the Human Resources and Health and Safety Association for BC’s tourism and hospitality industry.
Executive Director Jeff Guignard Speaking at Comox Business Matters, November 2
Comox Business in Action (BIA) is hosting a series of fall speaker sessions to tackle business challenges and learn ways to grow your bottom line. Click here to learn more about this series.
ABLE BC’s Executive Director, Jeff Guignard, will be speaking at the November 2nd session, alongside Ian Tostenson of the BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association (BCRFA).
Join Jeff and Ian for ‘ Tips, Trends and Tackling Challenges for Food and Beverage Businesses’ on Thursday, November 2nd 9:00 am at Church St Tap House in Comox.
Comox BIA members can register for free. Email comoxbia@gmail.com for your promo code.
ABLE BC Member Webinar: LCRB Minors as Agents Program What You Need to Know – Thanks for Attending!
Thank you to everyone who attended our webinar with the LCRB on the Minors as Agents Program. And a special thank you to Ian Brown and Maria Caduhada of the LCRB and Bert Hick of Rising Tide Consultants for their insights and information.
If you missed this webinar, a recording is now available in the video library of the Member Portal. If you aren’t sure how to login to the Member Portal or if you aren’t a member yet and would like to sign up for access, please email Ann Brydle, Manager of Membership and Communication, at ann@ablebc.ca.
Our Member Portal is filled with tools and resources to help your business thrive. Find our FAQs, free pdf downloads, event registrations, past webinar recordings are more! Learn about and connect with our valued benefit providers (SONA, Global Payments, Foodbuy, VI Banking, Western Financial, and more) and Associate Members. Browse through the member directory to connect with industry experts and suppliers.
Update your profile to ensure your contact information is correct and make sure you are subscribed to our bi-weekly Industry Update newsletter. You can also upload your company logo and social media channels and add employee accounts so your key staff can access the full suite of ABLE benefits and resources.
Magnums & More Wine Auction, October 1-21, 2023
Are you looking to add a collectible large format bottle (or two) to your cellar andgive back to the BC hospitality community at the same time?
Trialto Wine Group has proudly partnered with the BC Hospitality Foundation(BCHF) to host an online auction of over 25 collectible magnums and other large format wines.
"Magnums & More" online auction items will include:
1. Rare back vintage magnums perfect to add to your cellar
2. Signed magnums from winery proprietors or wine makers
3. 3L and 6L rarities from the likes of Langmeil Winery of Australia, Felton Road from New Zealand, and Champagne Bollinger
How can I participate?
The online auction will be open for bidding from October 1, 2023 (8:00am) to October 21, 2023 (11:59 pm). Simply click the link below between October 1 and 21 and to bid on precious rarities to enjoy now or to cellar.
To view online auction, go to: https://trellis.org/magnums-more
Giving back to a community close to all our hearts
Your support during this auction goes towards a wonderful cause. One hundred percent of the proceeds will support the BCHF’s charitable work, which includes providing financial assistance to hospitality workers in financial crisis due to extraordinary health conditions.
“Magnums & More” auction is open for anyone residing in British Columbia. Once the auction closes, your wine will be available for pick up on October 24 at Marquis Wine Cellars between 12 and 7 pm. Out of town successful bidders will be contacted by the Charity to arrange delivery after October 24th.
Cannabis Corner with Nick Landells
We hope you were able to join last week’s webinar with LCRB officials Ian Brown and Maria Caduhada on the Minors as Agents Program. With this program now expanded to cannabis retailer stores, it is essential you are familiar with due diligence practices to help you ace a MAP inspection. If you missed out on the webinar, you can view the recording and presentation slides in the video library of the Member Portal now.
Do you have a cannabis retail store? Sign up with a new ABLE BC cannabis membership to support the work we do on your behalf. We’re offering a discounted membership fee to all ABLE BC liquor members who sign up as cannabis members by the end of September. Use code ABLECAN1 for $100 off a cannabis membership for your first store, and code ABLECAN2 for $50 off a membership for each additional store.
Click here to join as a cannabis member now!
Out and About with ABLE BC!
With the SPARK 2023 conference coming up in less than two weeks, we are full speed ahead on planning and organizing the final details. This conference is sure to be a hit, with two full days of learning, connecting, and growth. We are beyond excited to hear from our keynote speakers Andre Hueston Mack, Jay Ashton, and Theresa Ito! In addition to these innovative and inspirational speakers, we will be have industry leaders from across the province join us for 16 sessions on topics ranging from diversity and inclusion to crisis communications, liquor regulations and compliance to driving profitability through agent relationships, and so much more!
If you haven’t registered yet, why not?! Click here to register now! And Click here for the full conference program.
In case you missed it, our Executive Director Jeff Guignard was in the news recently:
The Jill Bennett Show: Streamlining the Hospitality Sector - October 3, 2023
