LCBO’s partnership helps Campfire Circle deliver year-round, medically supported programs for children with cancer or serious illness and their families in hospitals across Ontario and at two medically supported overnight camps in Muskoka and Waterford—at no cost to families.

“The holidays can be especially challenging for families in hospital, but Campfire Circle brings moments of joy and connection to kids through activities like arts and crafts, interactive games, and music,” said Alex Robertson, CEO, Campfire Circle. “We are deeply grateful for LCBO’s partnership, the dedication of their staff, and the generosity of their customers, who make these experiences possible.”

Campfire Circle is proud to be an LCBO charity partner alongside Ontario’s four children’s hospital foundations: CHEO Foundation, Children’s Health Foundation, McMaster Children’s Hospital Foundation, and SickKids Foundation.

“Through our Spirit of Sustainability platform, we are proud to support Campfire Circle’s vital programming for kids with cancer or serious illness and their families,” said George Soleas, President & CEO, LCBO. “Thanks to our generous customers and retail teams, we are making a meaningful difference in communities across Ontario.”

Together, LCBO and its customers are helping transform the lives of families facing serious illness.

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Tequila continued to have strong growth, albeit slower than previous years (+6% compared to +16% last year). American whiskey also captivated people’s attention this year (+7%) partly driven by popular limited releases throughout the year. Meanwhile more customers discovered the world of Asian spirits, such as soju and whiskies, which offer a delicate and clean flavour profile compared to other styles.

LCBO is seeing customers’ wine preferences change, with a shift away from heavier styles towards fresher styles of wine, including lighter reds, low and dealcoholized wines, and refreshing whites such as Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio. Local Ontario Icewine deviates from this trend, which has experienced a consistent upward trend since 2022 (+7% in the last year and +29% since 2022). Meanwhile value priced reds and whites are attracting customers who are exploring options offering quality and affordability.

A notable trend in both spirits and wines is the demand for smaller formats which provides a great option for those who don’t want to commit to a full-size bottle. In response to growing demand, LCBO has expanded the selection of smaller formats, now offering forty-three 375ml wines and two hundred 375ml and under spirits.

Ready-to-Drink products, which include pre-mixed cocktails and coolers, remained popular throughout the year, but cocktails (+17%) stand out as the fastest growing segment. Customers also took advantage of variety packs which allowed them to try different flavours from their favourite brands.

When it comes to beer, customers are looking for more robust and flavourful beers like strong ales, stouts and porters, which are particularly popular during colder months. A standout trend was the growth of de-alcoholic beer (+69%), supported by the influx of new products over the past year such as Guinness 0 and some local favourites such as Bellwoods Jelly King Non-Alcoholic Sour, and Muskoka Brewery Veer Lager with Lime.

Overall, lighter options – which can include lower sugar or low or no alcohol content – continue to be a popular choice among customers. Products with no alcohol saw growth of 73% over the last year and 189% growth since 2022. December is a peak sales period for no- or low-alcoholic options as many Ontarians look to partake in celebrations without alcohol consumption or provide choices for their guests when entertaining. LCBO has launched an additional six dealcoholized products for the holiday season, including our first local cider.

“This year’s product trends could be described as Ontarians seeking products that were unique, lighter and smaller in size” said Abhay Garg, Vice President, Merchandising. “We watch trends closely and aim to curate an assortment that provides perfect choices for everyone”

Data and information pertain to November 4, 2023 – November 9, 2024. Data may be understated due to the 17-day LCBO strike.  For data on top selling products by category, refer to Quarterly Trade Updates.

The post Ontario’s Top Alcoholic Beverage Trends Of 2024 appeared first on Muskoka411.

Campfire Circle is proud to be an LCBO charity partner alongside Ontario’s four children’s hospital foundations: CHEO Foundation, Children’s Health Foundation, McMaster Children’s Hospital Foundation, and SickKids Foundation. This partnership allows Campfire Circle to bring joy, connection, and camp experiences to kids and families navigating serious illness in paediatric hospitals, local communities, and at two medically supported overnight camps in Muskoka and Waterford—all at no cost to families.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting people and communities across Ontario, LCBO is proud to partner with Campfire Circle this holiday season through our ‘Share the Joy, Give with Purpose’ campaign,” said George Soleas, President & CEO, LCBO. “Now entering our third year as partners, the dollars raised during this year’s campaign will help Campfire Circle expand their programming and support their meaningful work with kids with cancer or serious illness and their families across the province.”

The holidays can be especially hard for families in hospital, but Campfire Circle staff work tirelessly to bring elements of seasonal joy right to kids’ bedsides and group sessions through activities like arts & crafts, interactive games, and ukulele lessons. These experiences provide much-needed normalcy, fun, and connection for kids and families during their treatment journey.

“We deeply appreciate the ongoing partnership with LCBO, their dedicated staff, and the generous customers who give to make our programs possible,” said Alex Robertson, CEO, Campfire Circle. “Your support ensures that even more kids with cancer or serious illness and their families can experience moments of joy and connection when they need it most.”

The post LCBO Holiday Campaign Supports Kids With Serious Illness appeared first on Muskoka411.

“Doug Ford wants to make life better for his wealthy friends. It’s why he’s wasting upwards of a billion dollars of our money to fast-track privatized alcohol sales and hand more of the public revenues generated by the LCBO over to the CEOs and big box grocery and convenience chains like Loblaws and Circle K,” said OPSEU/SEFPO President JP Hornick.

Frontline LCBO workers are proud that the revenues we help to generate give back to our communities.

“We know that the LCBO is Ontario’s best kept secret – and we’re fighting to protect it,” said Colleen MacLeod, Chair of OPSEU/SEFPO’s Liquor Board Employees Division (LBED) and the Bargaining Team. “We’ve been very clear that we won’t back down in our fight for a strong future for the LCBO and the public services funded by LCBO revenues.”

Throughout negotiations, the union proposed an alternative plan to Ford’s alcohol everywhere scheme and made it clear to Ford and the LCBO we’re ready to strike for it.

“We told Ford not to ruin everybody’s summer, but now he’s closed the Science Centre and forced a dry summer for Ontarians by refusing to offer a deal that would be good for LCBO workers and Ontario,” said Hornick.

We argued that we grow the LCBO to meet demand and increase convenience by opening more stores, increasing the hours of operation, and increasing warehousing, logistics and e-commerce capacity. Doing this will also expand public revenues by increasing LCBO sales which help fund our public services like health care and education as well as key infrastructure.

When you buy from the LCBO, including spirit-based ready-to-drink beverages, that should help build Ontario – not pay for a billionaire’s new yacht.

Our plan would also support good jobs at the LCBO and in our communities. Having more permanent part-time and permanent full-time job opportunities means greater product knowledge and even better customer service.

Right now, 70% of LCBO workers are casual – they don’t have guaranteed hours, which means most won’t have access to benefits and there aren’t opportunities to move into permanent part-time and full-time positions. We want a better future for our members, the LCBO, and Ontario.

SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO)

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While LCBO’s focus remains on achieving a deal that is fair to bargaining unit employees and helps the LCBO continue to operate effectively and efficiently for Ontario in a new marketplace, we are confident in our plan that will allow LCBO to continue serving our customers at this time. We offer the following guidance for shopping prior to July 4 to help prepare for the potential disruption to the retail customer experience.

Shop early

• We encourage customers to shop early and stock up on preferred products. Our shelves are well-stocked, and we are doing everything we can to maintain inventory levels.
• Customers may wish to stock up on spirits and Vintages products in particular at this time.
• Online shopping options remain available for added convenience, including home delivery, delivery to store and Same-Day Pick Up.
  • To ensure timely delivery windows for customers, delivery to store will be available up until June 26.
  • Same-Day Pick Up will be available until July 2.
• Customers may purchase beverage alcohol products through participating On-Demand Delivery providers from the LCBO until July 4.

Extended hours

• LCBO will be extending hours at all stores across the province from Thursday, June 27 through Thursday, July 4.
  • All stores will open early at 9:30 a.m.
  • While many stores will stay open up to 10:00 p.m., closing hours will vary depending on location.
• Customers are encouraged to consult local store schedules which can be found here and will be updated when extended hours are in effect.
• A reminder that all LCBO retail locations will be closed on Monday, July 1.

Stay updated

• Customers should check LCBO.com regularly for timely information and follow us on X @LCBO and @LCBONews.
• For news and information regarding the status of negotiations between LCBO and OPSEU, visit lcbonegotiations.com.
• Visit LCBO Customer Care to connect with us via email, phone, or live chat.

The post LCBO Extends Hours Head Of Possible Strike appeared first on Muskoka411.

“LCBO workers don’t want a dry summer, we love how busy it is and being a part of Ontarians’ celebrations,” said OPSEU/SEFPO Liquor Board Employees Division Bargaining Team Chair Colleen MacLeod. “But we can’t stand by while Doug Ford gives away the LCBO’s revenues to big box and convenience chain CEOs. It’s on Premier Ford and the LCBO to make sure that public services and good jobs don’t get left behind.”

LCBO workers will be in a legal strike position as of 12:01 am on Friday, July 5, 2024. The OPSEU/SEFPO bargaining team for LCBO workers is back at the table this week to let the LCBO and Doug Ford know exactly what they need to offer to avoid strike action.

OPSEU/SEFPO has presented proposals at the bargaining table that would modernize alcohol sales in Ontario, increase convenience, protect good jobs, and allow the province to keep investing the LCBO’s revenues – at least $2.5 billion each year – in public services like health care and education.

“We envision a future where the LCBO grows with Ontario,” said OPSEU/SEFPO President JP Hornick. “We could improve convenience by expanding public LCBO retail locations and hours. That would not only grow the LCBO’s revenues that pay for our health care and education, but also create good jobs in communities across our province.”

The core demands of the OPSEU/SEFPO bargaining team include expanding public retail locations and opening hours, expanding LCBO warehousing, logistics and e-commerce capacity in-house, and better jobs at the LCBO, including moving from a 70% casual workforce to more permanent part-time and full-time positions to improve customer experience and sustainability.

“Ontarians have a choice,” said Hornick. “We don’t have to let Doug Ford hand the alcohol market over to big box grocers and convenience chains like Loblaws and Circle K. We’ve had enough price gouging from them already on food and necessities – we don’t need the price of booze to go up too. We don’t have to let CEOs like Galen Weston win big while the rest of us in Ontario lose. We can and we will fight for the LCBO and strong public services.”

SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO)

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Consumer safety is our top priority. Together with Sunscope and their distributor Staples Promotional Products Canada, we are working with Health Canada to proactively notify consumers.

Consumers should immediately stop using the tumbler and call this toll-free number for further information: 1 (866) 846-1778.

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Sellers of beverage alcohol in Ontario have been blindsided by a staggering multi-million-dollar retroactive tax bill from the LCBO, and the consequences for consumers and the province are stark.

Claiming to be seeking the best price for consumers, the LCBO is unilaterally clawing back payments on products sold in 2023, based on claims that Quebec’s liquor board (the SAQ) obtained similar products for a lower price. But liquor boards, not suppliers, largely dictate pricing in their provinces. Quebec’s system has long applied a requirement for the lowest retail price. Ontario, however, has long had a system with a mandatory minimum retail price for consumers that raises prices every year. Now the LCBO is applying a punitive lowest wholesale price requirement, unfairly squeezing suppliers. We believe the LCBO is taking advantage of its own purchasing rules and inflating its revenues with no savings for consumers.

When consumers, bars, restaurants, and others buy beverage alcohol in Ontario, 75% of the price of every bottle is composed of taxes and the LCBO’s generous “markup”. Further, Ontario’s legislated minimum price policy for beverage alcohol forces the LCBO to raise prices every year. Just this year, the minimum price markup was increased by almost five per cent, widening the gap even further between Ontario and other provinces. As a result, today Ontario consumers are paying $31.15 for the lowest priced 750ml bottle of vodka, while Quebec consumers only pay $22.25 at the SAQ.

Punishing suppliers for circumstances beyond their control is unfair, provides no benefits to consumers, and puts suppliers in an impossible situation. Unable to absorb these exorbitant retroactive fees, each supplier must now consider its commitment to the Ontario marketplace, including potential changes to its investments and product offerings, and consumers may no longer get the benefit of discounts or promotions on their favourite brands.

In most markets, when it no longer makes commercial sense for suppliers to sell to certain retailers, they can use other retail channels to sell their products. In Ontario, neither suppliers of spirits nor consumers of their products have any other available option. Worse, at a time when affordability is top of mind, consumers will not receive any benefit from this practice through lower prices or rebates.

“In 2024, it only makes sense for Ontario consumers to have as many choices as other provinces when buying beverage alcohol, and for distillers of all sizes to be able to sell these products under more transparent and growth-oriented business practices”, said Lorena Patterson, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and Policy at Spirits Canada.

“As the sole buyer and seller of all beverage alcohol for Ontario consumers, the LCBO’s conflicting policies are overcharging both suppliers and consumers again and again,” Patterson added. “This could drive some of consumers’ favourite brands out of the market”.

The LCBO’s actions act against the interests of consumers by forcing them to pay an ever-increasing, opaque mark-up scheme. Further, the LCBO is abusing its market dominance to force individual suppliers to raise prices in other provinces to match the floor price the LCBO sets; this punishes consumers across Canada as a result.

“Distillers and the LCBO have been long-standing partners on innovation, market growth, and charitable campaigns for many years,” said Patterson. “This partnership has helped support a healthy dividend to the Ontario taxpayer. This retroactive tax grab ignores our long history of collaboration and investment in the province, and the major impacts that all Ontario and other Canadian consumers could now face. As a result, our companies are compelled to examine all possible options for action.”

The post LCBO’s Tax Bill Threatens Consumers’ Favourite Brands appeared first on Muskoka411.

Made for Canadians by Canadians with a blend of Extreme Bean brine and premium Canadian vodka, the Caesar Sipper is the first mini Caesar to hit the market. Same great taste as Matt & Steve’s Original Lightly Spiced Caesar, with an added splash of lemon-lime. This mini 213ml sipper-sized can is perfect for any on-the-go adventure. The Caesar Sipper mini size offers a compact solution that will stay cold to the last drop, delivering a great tasting Caesar experience.

“We’re excited to introduce the Matt & Steve’s Caesar Sipper to Canadians,” said Steve McVicker, Co-founder and Chief Brand Officer of Matt & Steve’s. “It’s a testament to our commitment to innovation and quality, offering Caesar enthusiasts a fast, effortless and great tasting Caesar option crafted for Canadians by Canadians, right here in Canada.”

The launch of the Caesar Sipper marks a significant milestone in the Canadian beverage market, offering consumers a new way to enjoy their favourite cocktail with ease. The Caesar Sipper is poised to become a staple for Canadians looking for a great tasting Caesar that is less filling– Just chill, shake and enjoy!

Matt & Steve’s Caesar Sipper is available at the LCBO for $10.10 for a pack of four. To learn more about Matt & Steve’s and the Caesar Sipper, please visit mattandsteve.com.

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