Beer Store Employee Training Program Named Best in Canada

TORONTO, June 5, 2014 /CNW/ - 'Beer College' product knowledge training for employees and continued education around environmental leadership, social responsibility and health and safety has earned the Beer Store top prize for excellence in talent development by the Retail Council of Canada.

The Beer Store came out ahead of some of Canada's largest and most well-known brands at the Excellence in Retailing Awards Gala in Toronto on June 3^rd, 2014.

The award-winning Beer Store program is part of its $30 million investment to reinvent its brand and in-store shopping experience for beer lovers across Ontario. 

"As beer lovers ourselves, the Beer Store is dedicated to providing our customers with a superior shopping experience and a big part of that is investing in ongoing and rigorous training for our 7,000 hardworking employees," said Beer Store President Ted Moroz.

"This award highlights the fact that the Beer Store's reinvention is much more than a bricks-and-mortar renovation – it's about improving the customer experience with knowledgeable, helpful and responsible staff."  

In May, the Beer Store was ranked as the eighth most attractive employer out of 150 companies in Canada as part of the Randstad Award, a respected international survey.

The Beer Store sells more than 400 different brands of beer from more than 100 different brewers.

As part of its Beer College training, Beer Store employees learn about the history of beer, types of beer, beer and food pairings, the brewing process and the brands available in stores.

"The Beer Store's management and employees can be proud to share this prize," said Rob Edwards, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers of Canada Local 12R24, the union representing Beer Store employees. "We are very pleased that the Beer Store is committed to the ongoing professional development of our members."   

The Beer Store:

• Offers customers more than 400 brands, provided by more than 100 brewers and approximately 1 in 5 brands come from small Ontario brewers.
• Is a completely open system that allows any brewer in the world to sell their brands in any store they choose.
• Is deeply committed to responsible sale and not selling to minors and people who are intoxicated.  More than 3.6 million customers were challenged in 2013 alone.
• Is one of the greenest retailers in the world and collected more than 1.7 billion beer bottles in 2012-2013 (a 92 per cent return rate) and 300 million wine and spirit containers (a 80 per cent return rate).
• Employs 7,000 hard-working Ontarians with well-paying full- and part-time jobs.

To stay up-to-date on beer info and weekly deals, like the Beer Store on Facebook, follow @mybeerstore on Twitter, download the latest issue of chill or visit www.thebeerstore.ca.

SOURCE: The Beer Store

Jay Armitage, 416-645-8174, [email protected]