May The Beer Retailer run dry subsequent yr?
The retailer has been promoting suds in Ontario for greater than 90 years. However after the province expanded the sale of beer and ready-to-drink alcohol gross sales to nook shops, practically two dozen Ontario places will probably be closed by the top of February.
Beer now obtainable in comfort shops
The union representing workers blames the closures on the province’s transfer to permit beer gross sales at greater than 4,000 comfort shops.
John Nock, president of United Meals and Business Employees Native 12R24, mentioned 15 Beer Retailer shops have closed since June 2024 and one other eight are slated to shut by Feb. 28. About 405 places stay in enterprise.
Nock mentioned in an electronic mail: “These closures are absolutely due to expansion of alcohol sales in Ontario by the Ford Government.”
Nock famous an early implementation settlement for expanded beer gross sales requires The Beer Retailer to keep up a minimum of 300 Ontario shops by the top of 2025.
However the union has warned of the potential for widespread closures in 2026.
What Beer Retailer places are closing?
Three Toronto shops have already closed, together with shops at Yonge and Dundas, Queens Quay and Roncesvalles.
Shops in Barry’s Bay, Marmora, Geraldton, Nipigon, Cochrane and Stratford additionally closed final yr.
In early 2025, Beer Shops closed in Burlington, London, Scarborough, Thedford, Westport and Chapleau.
The next shops are closing Feb. 28, in accordance with the union.
2568 Finch Ave. W., Toronto5544 Lawrence Ave. E., Toronto3431 St. Clair Ave. E., Toronto16715 Yonge St., Newmarket82 Northside Rd., Ottawa500 Princess St., Kingston380 Donlands Ave., East York10 The East Mall, Etobicoke
Will extra Beer Shops shut in Ontario?
“I definitely believe more closures will happen,” mentioned Nock. “How many I am unsure at this time.”
Nock estimates job losses have been restricted to about 15 up to now, as union members have been given the choice to work at different places. But when The Beer Retailer faces mass closures sooner or later, Nock mentioned different employees gained’t be as fortunate.
The Beer Retailer, a sequence of stores primarily owned by brewers Molson, Labatt, and Sleeman, employs about 7,000 folks in Ontario, in accordance with its web site.
Nock urged prospects might see declining choice and better costs if The Beer Retailer ceases to exist.
“We have over 1,100 different brands from over 200 different brewers,” mentioned Nock. “Selection and empty returns could be at risk for people in Ontario. Prices could go up as they did in Alberta.”
The Beer Retailer is understood for its empties return system that accepts all empty containers from prospects beneath the Ontario Deposit Return Program.
Beer Retailer intently watching retail shops
The Beer Retailer’s vice-president of retail Ozzie Ahmed declined to touch upon future closures in an emailed assertion to Metroland.
“Like any retailer in today’s evolving marketplace for beverage alcohol, we are continually evaluating our business operations to ensure we’re meeting the needs of our customers and adapting to change,” mentioned Ahmed. “The Beer Store is closely watching our retail stores and making decisions on what makes the most sense for how we operate as a business. Any decision we make considers our commitment to serving our customers.”
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