Kensington Brewing weighs in: Let us sell our own beer
Via Kensington Brewing Co. Blog –
A few weeks ago there was a discussion on our blog about the deregulation of alcohol sales in Ontario. The issue is extremely divisive to say the least. While most agree that the current regime is flawed, there doesn’t seem to be a consensus as to what the ideal retail system would look like. In my post I provided some support for the LCBO which creates, in my opinion, a relatively level playing field for brewers.
For me the discussion of how we can or should sell beer is about fairness. What I dislike about an open system is the barrier for those without the established purchasing power, marketing budget or political clout to participate in a culture of “discounts” and “co-branding programs” (kickbacks). I’m not asking for a nanny state to dictate each and every move of our industry, but for them to facilitate equal opportunity.
One issue that Brock and I discuss often is the desire to sell KBCo products in our own retail store. This would be great for consumers and for business, but there are a number of roadblocks. The AGCO states that a “brewery retail store must be located on the same parcel of land as the production site of the manufacturer that holds the brewery retail store authorization”, meaning that you can only sell beer where it’s brewed. This means, for example, that we can only sell our products at the brewery or through approved retail locations (LCBO, TBS, licensed establishments). We are not, in other words, permitted to open our own specialty beer store. It is also forbidden to pair with other breweries to sell our products in a co-operative retail environment. Unless you’re The Beer Store.
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