DEADLINE:

As specified on the LCBO’s New Item Submission System (NISS), holiday gift pre-submissions are due January 25th, 2025. Note: High resolution photographs will be accepted at the pre-submission stage. Mock-up samples are not required.

LCBO CATEGORIES’ PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS:

Recognizing that newness and uniqueness drives excitement, we will be focusing on gift items that deliver this same level of delight to our customers.  We encourage submissions of traditional gift items with updated and refreshed packaging of existing brands, that include accessories, or value adds that express a “must-have” message to shoppers.  Please note, in accordance with LCBO policy, we will continue to purchase products shipping from source locations.  It is the agent's responsibility to ensure all products submitted adhere to this policy.  Imported gift packs containing food items will not be considered for purchase.

The following criteria (not limited to) will be considered:

·       Single and specialty bottles that can be given as gifts, featured on home bars, and reflect the spirit of the holiday season (e.g. single bottles with holiday/celebration themed wraps)

·       New and/or unique products from popular holiday categories that will create excitement and incremental sales opportunities, such as limited- edition bottles, advent calendars, cocktail kits, etc.

·       Products ideal for stocking stuffers (i.e. 50mL spirits miniatures, 200mL and 375mL existing premium sparkling wines & spirits, 50mL premium trial packs and others that are seasonally relevant)

·       Gift packs with pre-packaged value-add offers (i.e. collectable glassware, embossed/branded and re-useable vessels) that play to spirit of gifting and generate a “must-have” impulse

·       Gifting submissions from large/recognizable sought after brands.

·       New this year: We are interested in multi-product kits that can be assembled within LCBO network in Ontario. Kit packaging must be created and delivered by suppliers and must meet QA packaging specifications. Please submit concepts to the appropriate Category team via email in advance of the submission deadline.  

·       Mixed packs and specialty winter-style beers

·       Seasonally relevant or limited edition Ready-to-Drink products

VINTAGES PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

·       Innovative, unique and elegantly packaged products from popular holiday categories and Specialty offerings with mass appeal

·       Gifting submissions from popular/recognizable VINTAGES brands (multi-packs, large /small formats, advent calendars, etc.)

·       Champagnes and sparkling wines, small and large formats in addition to standard size in striking packaging

·       Multiple- or single-bottle Ice Wine gifts

·       New this year: We are interested in multi-product kits that can be assembled within LCBO network in Ontario. Kit packaging must be created and delivered by suppliers and must meet QA packaging specifications. Please submit concepts to the appropriate Category team via email in advance of the submission deadline. 

Note: A Product Needs Letter detailing preferences by buyer (Wines, Spirits, Beer & Cider and Vintages) is available in NISS.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

It is the stated goal of the LCBO to reduce the amount of packaging material in the products we sell. The LCBO encourages suppliers to support appropriate environmental protection practices. Product submissions that use less material and/or reusable packaging plus achieve other environmental objectives will be given strong consideration as part of the selection process. We also recommend the use of recycling symbols and messages on packaging where appropriate.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

Each 2025 Holiday Gift Submission must include:

1. A NISS application with a high-resolution photograph of the submission – must be uploaded in NISS

NOTE: Paperwork and mock up physical samples are not required at this stage. 

If accepted to proceed:

A finalized photography sample must be received by May 1st, 2025. The NISS paperwork must be submitted with the sample. ALL GIFTS must be submitted, including repeated items.

2. A copy of the Pricing Calculator must be uploaded in NISS, and a hard copy must accompany the submitted paperwork.

3. A complete application. This includes:

·       An online application through NISS.

·       A product and gift-pack selling description.

·       A high-resolution image of the gift.

·       An FOB or Ex-cellars quote on supplier letterhead, with the liquid and packaging components broken down (in the same currency).

·       A copy of the Pricing Calculator outlining the pricing breakdown with the physical paperwork.

The above MUST be submitted with each NEW and/or REPEATED submission.

·        New items are products that were not part of the 2024 Gift Program or were part of the 2024 Gift Program and include significant changes to the 2025 submission (i.e. different pack size, gift contents, new packaging, etc.). These submissions will be assigned a new LCBO number, if purchased for 2025.

·       Repeated items are products that were part of the 2024 Gift Program and have no changes to the 2025 submission.

PACKAGING:

·     Multi-pack gift items – multipack product Consumer Selling Units must comply with all Canadian Labelling Regulation requirements. Gift pack selling units must contain the appropriate allergen declarations. See:  Food labelling for industry - Canadian Food Inspection Agency (canada.ca)

·       Deposit Return: For gift packs containing units of different container sizes, please ensure your application and pricing requests identifies the product and its corresponding size format.

·       Case Carton Restriction: All gift items are subject to the case-carton dimension maximum (L: 54.0cm W: 40.0cm H: 51.0cm) and the maximum case weight restriction of 18.9kg.

·     Lightweight Glass Policy: All gift items will be subject to fees under the Lightweight Glass policy.  Please see the details for the Policy, here

·     All bottles, cans & accompanying accessories must be securely fastened within their package to permit regular transport and consumer handling.  

·      Packaging components exceeding 40% of the final quote will not be considered. Cost of packaging components indicated must reflect the actual cost of packaging.

·     Gift pricing calculators are currently available on the Doing Business with LCBO website PricingCalculators | Doing Business with LCBO

·     Bottles & accompanying accessories must be securely fastened within their packaging, with no more than 1 [front] window.  

PRICING & FREIGHT RATE DETAILS:

·       If the beverage alcohol component in the gift pack is currently sold at the LCBO, the quote for the alcohol component in the gift pack must match that of the regular item.

·       Exchange rates used to calculate the retail price will be LCBO fiscal Period 11, 2025.

·       If the beverage alcohol product is from an existing supplier, the supplier's freight rate will be applied to the mark-up of the gift pack.

·       If the product is from a new supplier, a standard freight rate will be applied.

·       Confirmation of exact shipping point/pick-up location.

·       All products purchased by the LCBO for retail or wholesale will be subject to our PO Terms and Conditions. LCBO reminds you that Section 14 of its Purchase Order terms and conditions requires that suppliers offer products to the LCBO at the same or lower FOB price than it offers any other government liquor board or government liquor purchasing body in Canada.

SHIPPING DEADLINES AND FINES:

Late shipments have a detrimental impact on the sales performance of this program and the customer experience at such an important time of year. It is imperative that Holiday Gifting orders are shipped on time, as outlined on the purchase order. Late, cancelled and short-shipped purchase orders will be subject to a penalty fee outlined in the Notice to Purchase (NTP). Gifts cancelled after the NTP has been issued are subject to a one-time $5,000 administration fee. Late shipments are subject to an administration fee of $1,000 per week (or part of) for every purchase order until the full shipment is received in the intended LCBO warehouse.  Short shipments may be subject to a $1,000 administration fee.

PROGRAM FEES:

Please note: All Holiday Gift items purchased are subject to a marketing/merchandising administrative fee of 3% with a minimum of $1,500 and a maximum of $3,500. The percentage will be based on the case cost multiplied by the number of cases received. The fee contributes to the production costs of any in-store and/or online communication materials used to promote the gifts.

All Holiday Gift item purchases are also subject to the terms and conditions outlined in the Notice to Purchase Letter, including, but not limited to, label and case-carton compliance, sell-through targets and shipping deadlines.

Questions may be directed to the appropriate LCBO Product or Category Manager. We look forward to working together to provide our customers with a dynamic and exciting 2025 Holiday Gift Portfolio.