Ontario's unfair beer prices meet their Waterloo

TORONTO, June 26, 2014 /CNW/ - Today, a new era of fair beer pricing begins for bar and restaurant owners. Restaurants Canada and Brick Brewing are announcing a 30 per cent drop in the price paid by restaurant owners for beer. This means bar and restaurant owners will now pay the same as the public does for Brick's Waterloo craft beers, rather than the much higher price that other large brewers charge licensees for their premium brands.

"Today's announcement is great news as we lead into Canada Day. It is a significant step in the right direction for Ontario business owners," says James Rilett, Restaurants Canada's Ontario Vice President. "It's ridiculous that bar and restaurant owners pay more than retail for beer in Ontario, especially when you consider the value-add they create in terms of jobs, taxes and spin-off economic activity."

Ontario's outdated liquor control system has created a perverse marketplace where restaurant wholesale prices can be up to 50 per cent higher than retail. Restaurants Canada has calculated that this inequity adds up to $75 million annually for Ontario's foodservice industry.

"We have been asking the government to put an end to price gouging by the large brewers in Ontario. It's good to see a responsible brewer stepping up in the absence of government action," says Rilett.

"Choice and true competition are always positive and we are thrilled to share our Waterloo craft beers - which recently won Gold, Silver and Bronze at the Ontario brewing awards - with even more people at pubs, patios and restaurants across the province," declared George Croft, President and CEO Brick Brewing. "Brick is a local, Canadian-owned brewery and this new relationship with Restaurants Canada represents a great step forward for our company, and for customers looking for more choice when it comes to beer."

Backgrounder attached: Beer Store Pricing – Licensee and Public Price Gap

Restaurants Canada (formerly the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association) is a national association comprising 30,000 businesses in every segment of the foodservice industry, including restaurants, bars, caterers, institutions and their suppliers. Through advocacy, research, and member programs and services, Restaurants Canada is dedicated to helping its members in every community grow and prosper.

Canada's restaurant industry directly employs more than 1.1 million Canadians, contributes $68 billion a year to the Canadian economy, and serves more than 18 million customers every day.

SOURCE: Restaurants Canada

Media Contact: Prasanthi Vasanthakumar, Communications Specialist, 1-800-387-5649 ext 4254 or [email protected]