Restaurants Canada in LCBO strike

OPINION

Toronto, July 5, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Restaurants Canada is calling on the LCBO, the government and striking workers to continue negotiations to reach a quick resolution and end the industrial action.

The summer season is a critical time for restaurants and bars, which rely on patio weather as well as tourists and sports fans who visit our establishments and support the local community and economy.

Ontario restaurants and bars rely on the LCBO as their primary supplier of wine and spirits, with alcohol sales accounting for a significant portion of their revenue. “Potential disruptions to alcohol supplies to our establishments could have a significant impact on our sector, particularly at a time when operators are already facing so many challenges,” said Kris Barnier, vice president of Central Canada at Restaurants Canada. “Many restaurants are still recovering from pandemic debt and are now grappling with a double whammy of weaker consumer spending and pressure on operating costs that have increased more than 20% in the past two years alone,” Barnier said.

As major players in the province, Ontario’s bars and restaurants generate $44.5 billion in sales annually and purchase $15.6 billion in food and beverages. There are more than 38,000 food and beverage establishments in Ontario that directly employ nearly 445,000 people. A significant portion of these, an estimated 14,000 establishments, rely on alcohol sales – including the products they purchase from the LCBO – as a major source of revenue. In addition, there are thousands of other establishments that rely on restaurants and bars as buyers of their goods and services.

We remain in close contact with the government and the LCBO and will continue to urge them to take all possible measures to reduce the burden on our sector, the jobs it provides and the communities it serves.

We thank our guests for their understanding and continued support of Ontario’s restaurant industry. Our restaurants are open and look forward to welcoming guests.

CONTACT: Annette Goerner Restaurants Canada 613-818-6941 [email protected]