As part of the provincial government’s plans to expand the alcohol marketplace, licensed convenience stores can start selling beverage alcohol products starting today, September 5, 2024.
As the exclusive wholesaler to convenience stores, LCBO is pleased to share that customers can expect to see products on the shelves of up to 4000 convenience stores who are licensed and eligible to sell beverage alcohol.
The facts
· There are currently more than 4,000 licensed convenience stores in Ontario. Two thousand (2,000) stores have ordered products or are in the process of ordering products.
· Convenience stores can select from almost 2,000 eligible beer, wine, cider and ready-to-drink products, with more products being added regularly.
· As individual convenience stores decide what products they want to sell in alignment with their alcohol licence, product availability may differ from store-to-store.
· Individual convenience stores decide when they want to start selling (September 5, 2024, marks the first legal selling date).
· Licensed grocery and convenience stores may set their own retail prices, which may be above or below LCBO prices, but minimum pricing rules apply.
· Convenience stores interested in selling beverage alcohol products, must apply through the AGCO to become a licensed retailer.
For more information about the expansion of the marketplace and how this impacts trade partners, please visit our dedicated page on doingbusinesswithlcbo.com.