Latest news with #MarkAnthonyGroup
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mark Anthony Group fined by watchdog in Canada over unfair promotional practices
Mark Anthony Group has been penalised by the Canadian regulator for 'illegally' paying retail stores to promote its alcoholic beverages and increase sales. In a statement on 25 June, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) said it had imposed a 'monetary penalty' of C$40,000 ($29,242) on the wine maker over "unfairly promoting its products". The decision follows a probe launched by AGCO in November into concerns surrounding unfair promotional practices by Mark Anthony Wines in Ontario. The investigation revealed that the company, through a marketing firm, paid over 130 retailers up to C$225 per store to display posters promoting its brands, according to AGCO. It also claimed retailers were encouraged to purchase and stock higher volumes of Mark Anthony products featured in the promotions. Just Drinks has asked Mark Anthony Group for comment on the fine and the claims made by the AGCO. The regulator said that the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 (LLCA) and its regulations prohibit licensees and their representatives from providing financial incentives to retailers to boost the sales or availability of an alcohol brand. The AGCO said such practices result in an 'unfair advantage', favouring large multinational corporations with more financial resources, while disadvantaging smaller local and independent companies. The regulator added such actions unfairly influence which products are stocked and promoted, potentially limiting consumer choice and compromising the transparency essential for a "competitive" market. Operators served with an Order of Monetary Penalty (OMP) by the AGCO Registrar have the right to appeal the decision to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an adjudicative tribunal that operates independently of the AGCO and is part of Tribunals Ontario. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, Mark Anthony Group is a private beverage conglomerate founded in 1972 by Anthony von Mandl. It manages a portfolio of businesses in the alcohol beverage sector, including production and distribution of wines, spirits, and ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages. The group encompasses multiple divisions, including Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits that is focused on wine and spirits distribution, and Mark Anthony Brands that specialises in RTD beverages. "Mark Anthony Group fined by watchdog in Canada over unfair promotional practices" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
CTV News
25-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Wine and spirits company fined $40K for paying Ontario retail stores to promote its products
Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario Investigation and Enforcement Bureau at the Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands in Gananoque, Ont. on Friday, July 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg A wine and spirits company has been ordered to pay a $40,000 for paying retail stores to promote their products, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario says. In November, the AGCO began investigating concerns that Mark Anthony Group Inc. was 'unfairly promoting its products in Ontario.' In a news release on Wednesday, the AGCO said that the investigation has since confirmed that a marketing firm working on behalf of the company paid more than 130 retailers up to $225 per store to display posters promoting their brands. The AGCO says that the stores were also encouraged to purchase and stock higher volumes of the products featured in the posters. 'The AGCO is committed to maintaining a fair and competitive alcohol market. Undisclosed financial incentives corrupt market integrity and are a clear violation of Ontario's regulations,' AGCO CEO and Registrar Karin Schnarr said in the news release. 'This penalty sends a firm message: we will hold all licence holders accountable for compliance and ensure that small, independent producers have the opportunity to succeed in Ontario.' The AGCO says that provincial legislation 'explicitly' prohibits licensees and their representatives 'from offering financial benefits or inducements to retailers in order to increase the sales or availability of a brand of alcohol.'
