In its April 2015 report, Striking the Right Balance: Modernizing Beer Retailing and Distribution in Ontario, the Premier's Advisory Council on Government Assets recommended that the government authorize qualifying grocery stores to sell beer to the public. In the 2015 Ontario Budget, Building Ontario Up, the government announced it would proceed with this recommendation and subsequently introduced regulatory changes establishing the LCBO as the wholesale supplier of all beverage alcohol, domestic and import, to authorized grocery stores. As of 2020, there are 450 authorized grocery store licensees selling beverage alcohol to Ontario consumers; the maximum number of grocery store licensees per Ontario Regulation 746/21 made under the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 has been reached.
Welcome to the Grocery Operations Information Site
Grocery Operations supports authorized grocery store licensees in ordering eligible beverage alcohol products and assists with any operational and administrative topics relating to selling beer, cider and wine in the grocery channel. We are a conduit to opportunity by facilitating a product ordering and delivery program that helps beverage alcohol manufacturers of eligible products and authorized licensees pursue retail market sales in Ontario.