Metro Ontario’s Post

Our managing partner, Lisa (Phillips) Hutcheson, was recently featured in the Toronto Star. She shares her thoughts on the Beer Store's place in the retail sector. https://lnkd.in/eBuWh4sQ The Beer Store’s grip on Ontario’s alcohol market is slipping fast! Once owning over 90% of the beer market, it’s projected to drop to just 15% by 2026-27, while the LCBO is set to dominate with a 77% market share. Why? The government is opening the door to more competition with grocery stores, big-box retailers, and corner stores selling booze. People are choosing convenience and variety over the old-school Beer Store experience. Experts say it’s not looking great for their future—unless they make some big changes, fast. What do you think? Is The Beer Store still your go-to spot, or are you shopping elsewhere? “It’s not sustainable in its current form,” said Hutcheson, managing director at retail consultancy J.C. Williams Group. “It’s not a particularly compelling offering at the moment.” #TheTorontoStar #RetailConsultants #RetailExperts #RetailStrategy #JCWG #JCWilliamsGroup

The Midlands Food and Drink Network are inviting regional producers to information sessions with Lidl Ireland and Aldi Ireland on their Supplier Development Programmes for 2025. The online sessions are perfect for Midlands-based Food and Drink producers who are looking to find out more about the programmes and get their products onto supermarket shelves nationwide. - Lidl Kickstart programme – Thursday 23rd January at 1pm - Grow with Aldi programme – Friday 24th January at 1pm Learn more about the programmes and meet with producers who have participated previously. To attend the events, contact the Midlands Food and Drink Network Manager, Bernie Everard, on beverard@laoiscoco.ie #midlandsadvantage #lidlkickstart #growwithaldi #retail #FMCG #foodanddrink #euinmyregion #foodproducers #irishfood #tastethemidlands Midlands Regional Enterprise Local Enterprise Office Laois Local Enterprise Office Longford Local Enterprise Office Offaly Local Enterprise Office Westmeath Laois Chamber Athlone Chamber of Commerce Tullamore & District Chamber of Commerce Mullingar Chamber Longford Chamber of Commerce & Industry

📊 The Power of Partnership: Ontario CPG By The Numbers Ever wonder what makes Ontario's CPG brands stand out? Let's dive into some game-changing stats that are reshaping our industry! 🎯 Success Indicators: • 78% of consumers actively seek locally-made products • Ontario's food & beverage sector supports 125,000+ local jobs • $47.5B in annual revenue from Ontario food processors 💡 What Top Performers Are Doing Right: ✅ Building strategic distributor partnerships ✅ Investing in product innovation ✅ Maintaining transparent supply chains ✅ Prioritizing quality assurance ✅ Supporting retail partners with in-store initiatives 🤝 The Real Question: What's YOUR growth strategy for 2025? Share below: A) Expanding distribution networks B) Launching new product lines C) Strengthening local partnerships D) All of the above Let's connect and grow together! #OntarioMade #CPGIndustry #FoodlandOntario #CanadianCPG #LocalSuccess #OntarioFood #OntarioBusiness #FoodProcessing #MadeInCanada #CanadianManufacturing #CPGBrands #FoodAndBeverage #OntarioGrown

Join Will Cronshaw, Channel Controller, as he explains Kingfisher Drinks' approach to export and off-trade. Learn how we collaborate with the UK's top supermarkets and the significance of export in driving success in international markets. Discover our strategies for global growth. #KingfisherDrinks

Coles Group Ups the Ante: A Strategic Shift in the Liquor Market Coles Liquor is taking bold steps to shake up the liquor retail landscape, rebranding some of its Vintage Cellars and First Choice liquor stores under the @Liquorland banner. With Liquorland Cellars and Liquorland Warehouse set to debut, this move is part of a larger strategy to challenge the dominance of Dan Murphy's. The stakes are high: Endeavour Group's Dan Murphy's and BWS saw a 1.7% sales growth in 2023-24, maintaining their lead as Australia's top liquor retailers. But Coles is not backing down, testing this rebrand with the potential to roll out nationwide. As commercial real estate agents, these changes present exciting opportunities to reimagine retail spaces and align with dynamic market shifts. If you're looking to position your assets for success in this evolving landscape, let's connect. Ready to discuss how this could impact your portfolio? Reach out today to explore tailored strategies that align with these market developments. Hudson Capital Michael Khouri #RetailStrategy #CommercialRealEstate #LiquorIndustry #PropertyInvestment #Coles #DanMurphys #Rebranding #MarketOpportunities

Molson Coors Beverage Company to invest £100m in UK production 👏 The multinational drink and brewing company has announced plans to roll out a significant investment programme, upgrading its infrastructure and improving capabilities and efficiencies across its UK network. Plans include installing a new 24-tonne high-speed 120,000 cans per hour filler at its Burton-on-Trent brewery and upgrading the packaging keg line at its Tadcaster brewery and Aspall Cyder House. The move aligns with Molson Coors' commitment to reaching Net Zero carbon via direct emissions in the UK by 2035. Fraser Thomson, Chief Supply Chain Officer for Western Europe, commented: "This plan is an investment in our future, giving our people and our brands the tools to fulfil our potential in the UK market while making strong progress against our sustainability targets. As a business, we have continued to invest in the UK throughout the challenges caused by the pandemic and this further investment underscores our long-term commitment to the UK and the local communities where we operate.” #News #Drinks #Beverages #Investment #Sustainability #UK #Strategy

📢 Big news from the Irish grocery sector! Galway-based family business Divillys Ltd T/A Divilly Brothers has extended its €4 million annual partnership with Aldi Ireland - a relationship that began in 2007 🍖 This renewed contract not only continues their supply of 100% Irish Bord Bia Quality Assured cooked ham for Aldi’s Specially Selected range but also introduces new products like low-fat black and white puddings. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eUkzhrg6 Peter Bough, Aldi’s Buying Director, shared: “We are proud to announce the continuation of our long-standing partnership with Divilly Brothers and the investment of a further €4m annually in that relationship.” Reflecting on the partnership, Shane Divilly, Commercial Director of Divilly Brothers, said: “As we announce the extension of this supplier partnership, we proudly look back at our journey with ALDI.” 🤝 This collaboration highlights the vital role of local Irish suppliers in the grocery industry and ALDI’s commitment to supporting community-focused businesses. #IrishFood #RetailInnovation #Aldi #DivillyBrothers #Sustainability

🏆 CSP is proud to announce the finalists in its 2025 Category Manager of the Year (CMOY) Awards, nominated by the convenience-store community. These are the best of the best from small, midsize and large chains across the United States. 🥤 And, for the first year, finalists in each category are broken into two segments—large chains (100 stores or more) and small chains (99 stores or fewer). The seven categories are behind the counter, center store, dispensed beverages, foodservice, loyalty + tech/operations, nonalcohol and alcohol. ✨ Center Store ✨ Large Chain Gary Evans - OXXO USA Thomas Rogers - Wawa, Inc. Michael Simons - OXXO USA Small Chain Corey Stump MBA - Childers Oil Company/double kwik Kathy Williams - Campbell Oil Company/Minuteman Food Mart Shawn Holmes - R.L. Jordan Oil Co./Hot Spot Convenience Stores 🗓️ Between now and Jan. 31, CSP is asking supplier partners to cast their votes to recognize the c-store industry’s finest category managers. 🗳️ To vote for the winner, click here: https://lnkd.in/gxAvYAKf Only c-store suppliers, not retailers, may cast a vote. #CRU25 #cspdailynews

For twenty years, our partners at FMI- The Food Industry Association have been recognizing outstanding store managers. Store managers are critical to success in the fast-paced, people business of grocery and Janet Jones Kendall of SmartBrief profiled this years winners. I’ll be sharing our conversations with them here. First up is Roman Perez of The Fresh Market #foodretail #grocery #foodandbeverage #cpg #b2bmedia #digitalmarketing

📢 **Industry News Alert!** 📢 Exciting changes are coming to Ontario's alcohol retail landscape! This summer, alcohol sales will be expanded to convenience and grocery stores, enhancing consumer choice and convenience. This move, a year-and-a-half ahead of schedule, will allow grocery stores to start selling ready-to-drink beverages and large-pack sizes of beer from August 1. Convenience stores will follow, starting September 5. Premier Doug Ford stated, "We are delivering on our commitment to give consumers in Ontario the choice and convenience every other Canadian enjoys and we’re doing so even sooner than we had originally promised." This initiative, which includes a substantial investment of up to $225 million to support The Beer Store's transition, is expected to significantly boost local breweries and wineries, while maintaining responsible retail practices. At Liquid AI Technologies, we are closely following this development as it promises to open new avenues for data-driven insights and innovative solutions in the retail sector. We look forward to exploring the impact of these changes and supporting the growth of our local businesses. Stay tuned for more updates on how this expansion unfolds and its potential implications for the industry. #IndustryNews #AlcoholSales #Ontario #RetailInnovation #ConsumerChoice #LiquidAITechnologies