Restaurants Canada meets with Competition Bureau to discuss Ontario beer deal

TORONTO, Jan. 15, 2015 /CNW/ - Restaurants Canada met with officials from the Competition Bureau today to discuss our association's complaint about the sweetheart deal between The Beer Store and LCBO. This deal protects The Beer Store's monopoly on beer sales.

"It was a positive first meeting," said James Rilett, Restaurants Canada's Vice-President Ontario. "We wanted to give the Competition Bureau a clearer picture of our industry and the unfair and outdated system of beer sales in Ontario."

Today's meeting was the start of a dialogue that will continue as the Competition Bureau gathers information and carries out its investigation.  

"The biggest problem is that we don't have access to all the information," said Rilett. "We hope the Ontario government will share all documents and details about this deal, and the reasons behind its original decision to enter into this agreement – one that is detrimental to consumers and businesses in the province."

Restaurants Canada filed a complaint with the Competition Bureau on Dec. 9, 2014, following the release of the non-competition agreement entitled "Serving Ontario Beer Consumers: A framework for Improved co-operation & planning between the LCBO & BRI."

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 (including commercial and non-commercial foodservice), and serves more than 18 million customers every day.

SOURCE Restaurants Canada

Media Contacts: James Rilett at 416-738-9546 or [email protected]; Prasanthi Vasanthakumar at 416-649-4254 or [email protected].