After practically a century in operation and serving as a trusted distributor of alcoholic drinks to hundreds of individuals, a serious beer retailer chain is closing dozens of places, turning into one more casualty of shifting shopper habits and an more and more aggressive retail market.
Because the market continues to evolve quickly, even historic manufacturers are struggling to adapt. The practically 100-year-old retailer now faces an unsure future, signaling the attainable finish of a long-standing legacy.
Based in 1927, The Beer Retailer is a Canadian chain that has grown to grow to be Ontario’s largest beer retailer, with over 300 places throughout the province. Owned by trade giants equivalent to Molson Coors (TAP), Sleeman Breweries, and Labatt Brewing Firm, it has lengthy been a fixture of Ontario’s alcohol retail system.
The Beer Retailer is closing seven extra places
The Beer Retailer revealed through an announcement on its web site that it is going to be closing seven shops throughout Ontario on November 16, citing a altering market and the growth of alcohol gross sales into grocery and comfort shops as key drivers of elevated competitors.
“Selling beer and collecting empties in Ontario is changing as part of marketplace expansion,” mentioned The Beer Retailer VP Retail Ozzie Ahmed within the announcement. “To meet the needs of an evolving retail market, The Beer Store is making the difficult decision to close retail locations and is committed to meeting the requirements of the Early Implementation Agreement. We know this is difficult news for consumers, recyclers and our employees.”
The Beer Retailer places closing November 16
- Alexandria: 118 Predominant St. N., Alexandria, ON, K0C 1A0
- Barrie: 299 Blake St., Barrie, ON, L4M 1K7
- Brampton: 374 Predominant St. N., Brampton, ON, L6V 1P8
- Beaverton: 553 Mara Rd., Beaverton, ON, L0K 1A0
- Cornwall: 960 Brookdale Ave., Unit 7, Cornwall, ON, K6J 4P5
- Gananoque: 580 King St. E., Gananoque, ON, K7G 1H2
- South River: 310 Hwy. #124, PO Field 160, South River, ON, P0A 1X0
The Beer Retailer reveals extra retailer closures for 2025.
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The Beer Retailer closures proceed
In Might 2024, The Beer Retailer signed an Early Implementation Settlement with the Authorities of Ontario, underneath which it might present as much as $225 million to assist the corporate shield jobs, help recycling, and keep money and carry operations.
Underneath this settlement, The Beer Retailer should preserve no less than 300 shops open till the tip of 2025. Nonetheless, the corporate could shut further places with out restrictions starting in 2026.
Extra Retailer Closures:
- 61-year-old fast-food chain quietly closes dozens of eating places nationwide
- It is your final likelihood to buy at this bankrupt retail chain
- Verizon reportedly planning main retailer closures and layoffs
Whereas the most recent closures could come as a shock to some shoppers, they mark the ninth spherical of a number of months of great downsizing. In 2025 alone, the beer chain closed greater than 80 places, leading to mass layoffs and bringing its retailer depend all the way down to round 320.
The Beer Retailer closures in 2025 (to date)
- June: 4 places
- July: 9 places + 11 places
- August: 10 places + 10 places
- September: 10 places + 11 places
- October: 12 places
- November: 6 places + 7 places
(Supply: The Beer Retailer)
With 20 closures nonetheless permitted underneath its settlement, extra places may shut down earlier than the tip of the 12 months.
Empty returns program adjustments
Beginning January 1, 2026, all grocery shops promoting alcohol will probably be required to just accept the return of empty containers and supply deposit refunds as a part of Ontario’s modernization of alcohol retail.
Regardless of the closures, The Beer Retailer encourages clients to proceed returning empty alcohol containers to its remaining places or any designated empty-return depots to help its long-standing recycling program. Clients can use The Beer Retailer’s retailer locator to discover a location shut by.
The longer term beer retail and coverage adjustments
In 2015, the Liberal authorities led by Premier Kathleen Wynne signed the Grasp Framework Settlement (MFA) with The Beer Retailer, formalizing the principles governing alcohol retailing in Ontario.
Nonetheless, in 2023, the federal government agreed to not renegotiate the MFA, which can enable for beer gross sales to increase into gasoline stations and nook shops as soon as the settlement expires on December 31, 2025.
The United Meals and Industrial Employees (UFWC) Native 12R24, which represents The Beer Retailer workers, has voiced considerations concerning the potential impacts of those adjustments. President John Nock warned that disrupting the present system may result in worth hikes and instability.
“The price of beer may go up,” mentioned Nock in a press release. “Changes to the current system could be extremely chaotic and could bring many unforeseen consequences. I’m not sure how necessary any of this is.”
Together with rising costs and widespread retailer closures, hundreds of jobs could also be in danger. Whereas The Beer Retailer has not disclosed what’s going to occur to the impacted workers, as much as 6,500 positions are anticipated to be affected.
“The implications of these closures go far beyond the retail floor,” mentioned President and Chief Lending Officer at Authorised Funding Shmuel Shayowitz. “Thousands of workers are losing their jobs, many of them in communities where retail employment has historically been one of the biggest anchors. Vacant storefronts are becoming an increasingly common sight, and declining commercial property values are the norm.”
Provincial Politics and Coverage Skilled John Michael McGrath says the federal government and retailers have a number of points to barter over the way forward for alcohol in shops, apart from deposit returns, equivalent to the speed of wholesale low cost accessible to retailers and the power to promote private-label merchandise.
“The government could ignore the retailers’ pleas and stick to its guns on its January 1st deadline,” mentioned McGrath in a press release. “Given the province’s current fiscal state, an expansion of the LCBO discount seems least likely: the deficit for this year is projected to be $14.6 billion and has potential to grow.”
“Retailers, for their part, could live up to their threats to stop selling alcohol entirely rather than be forced to accept empties,” McGrath added.
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