Latest news with #BeerStore
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Canadian beer company shutting down stores. Check reason, locations and other details
Live Events Employee and Community Support Empty Bottle Returns & What's Next About The Beer Store (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel A Canadian beer company, The Beer Store , has announced it will permanently close 10 of its retail outlets across Ontario, effective at the end of business on August 10, 2025, as part of its efforts to modernize operations in an evolving marketplace.'We made the difficult decision to close these retail locations,' said Ozzie Ahmed, Vice President of Retail at The Beer Store. 'Modernizing operations in a changing marketplace is never easy. We know this will be difficult news for customers and employees. The Beer Store is committed to treating employees with respect and supporting them during this process,' Ahmed added in a affected locations are:Amherstview – 4501 Bath – 130 Cedar Falls – 227 Cambridge – 2925 Eglinton Ave. W.; 3154 Hurontario St.; and 65 Queen St. – 1431 Rebecca – 2934 Finch Ave. – 55 Queen – 1470 Major Mackenzie emphasized that the company will continue to focus on 'ice-cold beer, great customer service, and a world-class recycling program' that returned more containers last year than it Beer Store says it recognizes the contributions of its employees and will make every effort to support affected staff in accordance with existing are encouraged to continue returning empty containers—including bottles, cans, plastic, tetra packs, and kegs—at remaining TBS locations or approved return depots. The company currently processes 1.6 billion alcohol containers January 1, 2026, all grocery stores that sell alcohol will also be required to accept empties under Ontario's updated consumer retail alcohol modernization can locate the nearest Beer Store by visiting or use the Province of Ontario's store locator to find alternative beer by Ontario-based brewers and recently named one of Canada's Greenest Employers, The Beer Store is Ontario's largest beer retailer and a leader in environmental stewardship. It operates 26 distribution points across the province and serviced over 13,000 customers in 2024, including 5,300 new company employs 6,500 Ontarians and is deeply committed to responsible alcohol sales, sustainability, and circular economy practices.
Toronto Sun
16 hours ago
- Business
- Toronto Sun
Beer Store announces 10 additional locations set to close this summer
A patron returns beer cans at a Beer Store location in Toronto. Photo by FILES / POSTMEDIA NETWORK The Beer Store has announced a 10-pack of additional locations will shut down in Ontario this summer, bringing to 35 the total number of store closures expected over the coming weeks. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account 'We made the difficult decision to close these retail locations. We will continue our focus on what we do best: Ice-cold beer, great customer service and a world-class recycling program that last year returned more containers than we sold,' said Ozzie Ahmed, vice-president of retail at The Beer Store. 'Modernizing operations in a changing marketplace is never easy. We know this will be difficult news for customers and employees.' The latest closures will come into effect Aug. 10 and coincide with an expanded alcohol marketplace in Ontario. In 2024, thousands of convenience and grocery stores were permitted to start selling booze, except for spirits, expanding Ontario's alcohol market beyond The Beer Store and the LCBO — the two main stores where consumers previously could purchase booze. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Following the province's new alcohol sales initiative, The Beer Store announced the closure of nine locations across the province. In March, five more closures were announced. Then in May, The Beer Store said it would close 11 additional stores in Ontario, including two in Toronto. The Beer Store employs 6,500 people in the province with full- and part-time jobs. The company has not said how many jobs will be lost with the closures. Included in Monday's announced closures were six GTA locations, as well as stores in Cambridge, Amherstview, Tottenham and Iroquois Falls. The Beer Store encourages customers to continue returning the nearly 1.6 billion alcohol containers it processes annually to a local store or an empty return dealer, adding all grocery stores that sell alcohol will be required to return empties starting Jan. 1, 2026. However, a Canadian Press report late last month said few Ontario grocery stores that are required to accept empty alcohol containers are doing so, leaving the future of the deposit return program in question. About 70 grocery stores — ones that are more than 5 km away from a Beer Store — have been required to take empties since last fall. But only 13 are complying, according to the Ministry of Finance. Read More Toronto Blue Jays Olympics Columnists Canada Sunshine Girls
CTV News
19 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
The Beer Store closes locations in Simcoe County and York Region
An exterior of a typical location of The Beer Store (Source: The Beer Store) The Beer Store (TBS) has announced its latest round of closures, shutting the doors to outlets in southern Simcoe County and York Region. Monday's announcement comes with the closure of nine other beer stores across Ontario. 'We made the difficult decision to close these retail locations. We will continue our focus on what we do best, ice-cold beer, great customer service and a world-class recycling program that last year returned more containers than we sold,' said Ozzie Ahmed, vice president retail of TBS. On July 6, The Beer Store located at 14800 Yonge Street in Aurora will be slated for closure. The Beer Store on 55 Queen Street in Tottenham will shut its doors on August 10, nearly two months away. This is the latest update in a series of closure-related announcements that the retailer has made. Modernizing Operations These closures are part of consumer retail alcohol modernization, found in the Early Implementation Agreement and provincial regulations. 'Modernizing operations in a changing marketplace is never easy, we know this will be difficult news for customers and employees. The Beer Store is committed to treating employees with respect and supporting them during this process,' continued Ahmed. The following alcohol containers can be returned to collect your deposit back: beer, wine and spirits bottles, aluminum cans, plastic bottles, tetra packs and kegs. The Beer Store says they encourage customers to continue returning more than the approximate 1.6 billion alcohol containers processed annually.
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
Another northern Ont. beer store to close
The Beer Store has announced its latest round of closures, affecting one outlet in northern Ontario. The store in Iroquois Falls will close Aug. 10, one of 10 locations that will cease operating that day. The Beer Store has announced its latest round of closures, affecting one outlet in northern Ontario. The store in Iroquois Falls will close Aug. 10, one of 10 locations that will cease operating that day. The other stores are mainly in the GTA, the company said in a news release Monday. 'We made the difficult decision to close these retail locations. We will continue our focus on what we do best, ice-cold beer, great customer service and a world-class recycling program that last year returned more containers than we sold,' Ozzie Ahmed, vice-president of retail, said in the release. Changing marketplace 'Modernizing operations in a changing marketplace is never easy. We know this will be difficult news for customers and employees. The Beer Store is committed to treating employees with respect and supporting them during this process.' Efforts will be made to support employees through this process in alignment with commitments and agreements, the release added. In addition to Iroquois Falls, a beer store in Sault Ste. Marie has been converted into a distribution warehouse. And last year, beer stores in Cochrane, Geraldton and Nipigon all closed. The decision to close the store has been driven, in part, by the fact that convenience stores are now allowed to sell beer and wine. A list of stores still operating can be found here.
Toronto Sun
30-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Sun
Few Ontario grocery stores accepting booze empties, some weigh returning licences
Published May 30, 2025 • 5 minute read Empty beer and wine bottles. Very few Ontario grocery stores that are required to accept empty alcohol containers are doing so, leaving the future of the deposit return program in question as The Beer Store closes locations across the province. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account About 70 grocery stores — ones that are more than five kilometres away from a Beer Store — have been required to take empties since last fall but only four are complying, says The Beer Store, which operates the deposit return system. On Jan. 1, 2026, all grocery stores selling beer and wine _ more than 1,000 are licensed, according to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario — will have to accept bottle returns as part of Premier Doug Ford's move to speed up the availability of alcohol. The Ministry of Finance says 13 of the grocery stores are complying and the rest of them with current obligations are 'expected to join over the coming months.' But Jan. 1 is also when The Beer Store is allowed under Ford's alcohol agreement to close an unlimited number of stores, and with so few grocery stores already participating and others threatening to hand back their licences rather than participate in the deposit return program as currently structured, the program that saw 1.6 billion containers returned last year could be in jeopardy. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Karen Wirsig, a senior program manager at Environmental Defence, said the program allows for beer bottles to be reused, ensures the effective recycling of most alcohol packaging and keeps millions of tonnes of material out of landfills. 'As the Beer Stores keep closing, that will kill the Ontario deposit return program,' she said. 'If you don't make returns convenient for people, they won't do it.' John Nock, president of the union representing The Beer Store employees, said there should be some enforcement to ensure the grocery stores get deposit return systems up and running so consumers can get their 10 or 20 cents per container. 'If they're allowed to sell alcohol … they should take returns,' he said. 'Why are (we), the public, paying a deposit to the government that we can never get back? Or we've got to drive a half an hour (to the nearest Beer Store) to get our $2 or $3 back.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Grocery stores have for months voiced their concerns with the program, from sanitation issues and space constraints to a sheer cost effectiveness calculation. Earlier this month associations representing both small and large grocers wrote a joint letter to the premier warning they will stop selling alcohol if the program isn't improved. 'Unless urgent changes are made to build fairer economics and to move away from a mandatory return-to-retail recycling system, our grocery members have advised that their stores will start the process of reviewing their future participation, potentially exiting the category all together,' wrote the Retail Council of Canada and the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Adding insult to injury, they say, is a move by the government in its budget to increase a wholesale alcohol discount from 10 to 15 per cent for bars, restaurants and convenience stores _ who do not have to accept empties — but not grocery stores, who do. 'It's inexplicable,' said Gary Sands, senior vice-president of public policy and advocacy with the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers. 'If anything, what they should have been doing is saying, 'In light of the fact that we've dumped all the recycling on you guys, we're going to increase your allowance and we'll leave the others as it is.' Instead, it's the reverse.' It puts grocery stores at a competitive disadvantage, Sands said. '(Ford) promised us that when he rolled out the new system, there would be no winners and losers,' he said. 'He's broken that promise.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The big grocery chains, through the Retail Council of Canada, are echoing those concerns. Loblaws is testing a return-to-retail system at one location and is finding it's 'ludicrously expensive,' said Sebastian Prins, director of government relations for the retail council. 'It's tightening already tight margins,' he said. 'Our folks just want to be able to kind of compete on a level playing field.' The AGCO has started sending grocers some 'compliance letters,' Prins said, but the language is fairly soft for the time being. There are many steps the government could take to help enable grocers to offer return systems, Prins said, such as looking at removing the deposit from beer cans and leaving those to the blue box system. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Even something as simple as the government saying, 'We are going to convene major grocers and The Beer Store in a room to talk about is there a cheaper mouse trap that can be built here' — even that would be seen as forward progress,' he said. 'They've kind of got all their levers pushed to zero.' Ford's previous plan was to get beer, wine and ready-to-drink cocktails in convenience stores and all grocery stores by 2026, but in May of 2024 he announced that would instead happen that year. An 'early implementation agreement' with The Beer Store involves the province paying the company up to $225 million to help it keep stores open and workers employed. The province's financial accountability officer said there will also be a $215-million cost as a result of lower tax revenues as grocery, big box and convenience stores are not subject to beer, wine and spirit taxes. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. As well, the FAO said there will be $172 million in lower net income to the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. While there will be a $1.1 billion increase in wholesale LCBO revenue, there will also be an approximately $812 million decline in LCBO retail revenue, a $192 million cost to give wholesale discounts to new retailers, $150 million in service rebates to brewers, $105 million in higher operating expenses, and $22 million in higher recycling fees. Under the agreement, The Beer Store has to keep at least 300 stores open up to the end of this year, but starting in 2026 there is no minimum number. Ozzie Ahmed, vice-president of retail for The Beer Store, said in a statement that the stewardship of alcohol containers is an important part of retailer responsibility. 'Annually The Beer Store processes about 1.6 billion alcohol containers, more than we sell in our own network of stores,' Ahmed wrote. 'This diverts waste from landfills, recycling facilities and ensures consumers have an easy and convenient way to get their deposit back.' Crime Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls Toronto Raptors Toronto Maple Leafs
