WHOLESALE LIMITED TIME OFFER PROGRAM

A Limited Time Offer (LTO) Program is being introduced for grocery, convenience, duty free and hospitality sales channels.

An LTO is an optional supplier-led promotional discount on select products for a specified period of time to help drive sales.

 

Available wholesale channels for LTOs

There are two wholesale LTO programs; suppliers determine which sales channels they would like to offer the promotion.

1. A rebate model for convenience, grocery and duty free

• Supplier determines the eligible product, the promotion, and the promotional period

• The relevant wholesale customer purchases the product at the regular wholesale price.

• During the LTO promotion period, participating retailers must pass the whole discount on to consumers (subject to minimum retail price requirements), to be eligible to receive a rebate on products sold.

• Relevant wholesale customers will submit sales to LCBO at the end of the promotional period to receive a rebate for LTO units sold and be rebated accordingly.

• LCBO invoices suppliers based on sales data 

Important: Participation in the LTO program is optional for wholesale customers.

2. A discount model for hospitality licensees (e.g. bars and restaurants)

• Supplier determines the eligible product, the promotion, and the promotional period

• Hospitality licensees purchase product at a discounted wholesale price at the point of purchase; either online or in store (subject to minimum wholesale price requirements)

• Hospitality licensees can pass on the discount to consumers but are not required to due to the unique nature of their business (on-premise consumption)

• LCBO invoices suppliers based on sales data

Note: Starting September 13,  LCBO Retail LTOs will be for consumers and no longer be available to hospitality licensees shopping in-store when this new program is introduced.

The LCBO Retail LTO Program is a separate program, and details can be found here. LCBO Convenience Outlets (LCOs) will continue to participate in LCBO Retail LTOs and are not eligible to participate in the Wholesale LTO Program. 

 

Wholesale LTO Rates & Fees

Admin fees apply based on sales channel. The supplier/agent will be charged based on the full reduction in the wholesale price for the number of units sold at the LTO price.

• Grocery, convenience & duty free LTO admin fee: $500 per approved LTO

• This includes access to up to three catalogues

• Hospitality LTO admin fee: $250 per approved LTO

• This fee is waived if the same LTO is also in the grocery, convenience or duty free catalogue 

 

Promotional dates and applications 

LTOs will be available in 13 promotional periods across the year. Applications open on the first Monday and end on the last Sunday of each promotional period. LTOs can run for 1, 2, 3 or 4 weeks within a promotional period. 

Key dates for LTOs can be found below.

• Apply for a grocery, convenience or duty free LTO

• Apply for a hospitality LTO

Notes:

• You will require LCBO Gateway credentials to complete the application form. If you have not already registered for LCBO Gateway, please complete the LCBO Gateway Access Request Form.

• If you wish to apply for an LTO in hospitality and another sales channel, you will need to complete both application forms.

LTO Application Dates for Fiscal Year 27 - 28

Participation guidelines

• All products that meet the LTO guidelines and are currently listed in the relevant wholesale catalogue are eligible to participate in the program, with the exception of wine products at the current minimum wholesale price in the hospitality licensee catalogue.

• A brand may participate in consecutive LTOs, but a product SKU may not. There is no limit to the number of LTOs a supplier can apply for per period and there is no limit to the number of approved LTOs per period.

• Approved hospitality wholesale LTO offers for the current promotional periods may be published on the public-facing portion of www.doingbusinesswithlcbo.com to facilitate access by hospitality licensees. Published information may include the participating supplier, product, length of the promotion and applicable discount amount.

• It is the supplier/agents’ responsibility to ensure products are eligible for LTOs.

• Retailers are not obligated to participate in LTO promotions. 

 

LTO pricing

To qualify for the program, the discount amount must be a dollar amount per unit that is between 5-20% of the regular wholesale price. For LTOs in the hospitality channel, the LTO discount cannot bring a wine product below the minimum wholesale price. Minimum retail pricing and minimum wholesale pricing will continue to apply. 

Information and resources 

Video: Wholesale LTO Program overview