LCBO takes great pride in supporting Ontario’s local beverage alcohol industry by creating pathways to market, helping consumers discover local products and working with producers to help drive sustainable growth.  

To highlight these efforts, LCBO has released its first Local Industry Insights Report which looks back on fiscal FY25-26 product trends and the impact of LCBO’s programs and initiatives to support Ontario producers. The report also shares key findings from a recent consumer survey which offers insights into purchasing behaviors.  

Key highlights from Local Industry Insights Report

  • 5,200 Ontario-made beverages generated $3.07 billion in LCBO wholesale and retail sales, representing more than 20% growth year-over-year. 
  • 1,885 Ontario craft product listings in LCBO retail, representing a 19% increase across wine, beer, cider, ready-to-drink beverages and spirits. 
  • More than 2,750 LCBO retail employees completed local product education and training, a 57% increase year-over-year.   
  • More than 3,350 complimentary local product tastings hosted in LCBO retail stores. 
  • LCBO’s Eh List, an online curation of Ontario and Canadian-made products, helped customers discover local options, generated an estimated 23 million impressions, and delivered nearly $6.5 million in net sales through an accompanying Aeroplan promotion.   
  • Ontario product sales through grocery and convenience channels reached over $1.06 billion across more than 6,000 new points of sale, with the majority of sales delivered directly by producers. 

 

Key findings from consumer survey

In July 2026, LCBO conducted survey-based research through Ipsos to better understand consumer perceptions, buying behaviour, and the growing demand for Ontario-made products. 

  • Ontarians want to support local: About eight in ten of those who reported purchasing Ontario products said they do so to support local Ontario businesses or the Canadian economy, while taste and quality remain important factors. 
  • Desire to support local influences buying trends: 86% said they have purchased Ontario-made products in the past year, while 41% said they increased purchases of Ontario-produced beverages in that timeframe. 
  • LCBO plays an important role supporting local: 70% said they discover Ontario-made beverages at LCBO, followed by other retailers, bars and restaurants, and visits to breweries, wineries etc. When shopping at LCBO, 83% agreed that LCBO offers a strong selection of Ontario products, and 75% agreed that these products are easy to find. 

While we highly encourage you to read the report, next week we will providing additional information about local product trends, LCBO’s supports, and results from Ipsos’ recent surveys with consumers, wholesale customers, and producers. Please keep an eye out for the trade update next week. 

We hope that this information, together with the report, offers local producer new insights and inspires new ways to sustain or achieve growth.