Agents

Agents representing import products who are interested in participating in the wholesale import product call must be authorized under the Warehousing for Open Listings Program. Once authorized, Agents will be eligible to participate in LCBO’s Supplying Source Program and submit eligible products to the Import Wholesale Product Call. Authorized Agents will be required to sign a Service Level Agreement to participate in the Supplying Source Program.

Please note that agents must have an agreement with a 3PL(s) with a Warehousing Authorization to provide warehousing and distribution services in order to be eligible to work with the LCBO to import products into Ontario, become eligible to register as a Supplying Source and submit products to the Import Wholesale Product Call.   

A list of 3PLs with a Warehousing Authorization will be published on DoingBusinesswithLCBO.com when it is available. 

Agents with eligible warehouses

If you are an agent with your own eligible warehousing facilities, you can apply for a Warehousing authorization as well as an Agent authorization. 

Please submit your Warehousing application first and then include the application number in your Agent application. You will find this number in the subject line of the confirmation email sent by lcbo-policy@lcbo.com when we receive your application. 

Eligibility

To be eligible for the program, Agents must:

• Hold an active Licence to Represent a Manufacturer;  

• Be appointed by one or more  Suppliers of import products to exclusively represent the product and facilitate sales in Ontario. Agents must submit the Supplier Appointment of Agent Form at the time of application (form is available to download in the ‘Application’ section); 

• Submit a product list, using the template provided by LCBO, that corresponds with the Supplier Appointment of Agent Form(s) and the warehousing plan with an Authorized Third-party Logistics Company (template is available to download in the ‘Application’ section);  

• Apply to become or have an agreement with an Authorized Third-party Logistics Company to provide warehousing and delivery services. Agents must submit a letter signed by the Authorized Third-party Logistics Company confirming the existence of such agreement (LCBO will not approve your application unless or until the Third-party logistics company is authorized); 

• Attest that they do not hold and are not affiliated with a holder of a Grocery Store or Convenience Store Licence under the LLCA, or a Licence to Operate a Liquor Consumption Premises under the LLCA, and are not affiliated with or do not have a direct or indirect financial interest in any LCBO Wholesale Customer; 

• Attest that they will meet all program requirements and understand the requirements of the Supplying Source Program.  


Program overview

The following requirements will apply to the Program:

• All products must meet the eligibility requirements outlined in LCBO’s Wholesale Supply and Delivery Procedures Manual. Open product calls are intended to bring new products to Ontario. This excludes products that are LCBO-supplied to wholesale customers.

• LCBO reserves the right to decline any products that are identifiably the same as SKUs currently listed and continuously available through the LCBO but in a different format or packaging configuration.

• Approved products will be included in the Authorization and can proceed through the LCBO wholesale listing process. Authorized Agents must request LCBO approval to update their product list, including adding or removing product from the list or updating the warehousing information for those products.

• LCBO is the importer of record for all product entering Ontario. Authorized Agents must work with the LCBO to import product and coordinate the shipment, according to the terms of the Authorization. LCBO will arrange all inbound logistics with its carriers.

• LCBO will deliver shipments to the designated Warehouse or Authorized Agents may request to pick up shipments from an LCBO facility. The decision to permit pick-up is at the sole discretion and requirements of the LCBO.

• Authorized Agents are responsible for all storage logistics, costs, risks and liabilities of the products in the Warehouse.

• Products may only be stored at the Warehouse identified in the Authorization. Product may only be removed from the Warehouse if it is sold to a Wholesale Customer, unless expressly permitted by the LCBO.

• Products will be available for purchase in the applicable LCBO wholesale catalogue(s) once the inventory has been received at the Warehouse and is ready to be shipped to Wholesale Customers. 

• Authorized Agents are permitted to represent multiple Suppliers and cannot be affiliated with or have a direct or indirect financial interest in any wholesale customer.

• Authorized Agents must maintain insurance according to the terms of the Authorization, in the types and amounts required to cover risks associated with the warehousing and delivery of beverage alcohol.

• As a steward of Ontario’s open and competitive beverage alcohol marketplace, LCBO reserves the right to decline requests from Authorized Agents and Domestic Suppliers to work with Authorized Third-party Logistics Companies that fulfill more than 30% of all orders under the Supplying Source Program on a rolling-six-month basis.

• Authorized Agents (and Authorized Third-party Logistics Companies) must keep records of the inbound and outbound movement of inventory and produce the information upon request by the LCBO.


Applications

If you are eligible and would like to apply to this Program, please follow these steps:

  1. Review the agent eligibility and program requirements above. 

  2. Apply by completing the application form.

  3. Submit the following documents to lcbo-policy@lcbo.com:

    • Your Supplier Appointment of Agent Form(s), using this template

    • A product list that includes all eligible import products you represent and the authorized warehouse location where these will be stored, using this template Warehousing for Open Listings (LCBO will not approve your application unless or until the Third-party logistics company is authorized); 

    • A letter signed by an Authorized Third-party Logistics Company confirming the existence of an agreement between you to provide warehousing and delivery services (LCBO will not approve your application unless or until the Third-party logistics company is authorized). Not applicable for agents who have also applied for a Warehousing Authorization

 

The LCBO will review your application to ensure that it is complete and meets the eligibility requirements and policy conditions. 

If approved, the LCBO will issue an Authorization which must be fully executed before you may work with the LCBO to import products into Ontario, become eligible to register as a Supplying Source, and work with an authorized 3PL to warehouse and distribute product in Ontario. 

Please note that only authorized agents can register as a Supplying Source or submit product to LCBO’s wholesale product call for import products. Note that you will be required to sign a Service Level Agreement as part of the Supplying Source registration process.