LCBO Food & Drink Autumn 2024

LCBO NOTES

From our President & CEO

date on the ways in which we’re working to create a more sus tainable and equitable future for our business, our partners and the communities we serve. One example is our long-standing partnership with United Way, an organization that supports the basic needs of our communities while creating lasting change. Thanks to the generosity of our customers and our dedicated employees, to date the LCBO has provided over $53 million to United Way. Our annual fundrais ing campaign will run across all our stores from September 18 to October 6. The LCBO will be recogniz ing the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day on Monday, September 30. I’m delighted that we are part nering once again with artist Lynn Taylor, a member of the Oneida Nation of the Thames (Turtle Clan), Mississauga, to honour this day with special creative content that will be showcased across our digital channels and in our stores. Lastly, we’d like to offer our heartfelt congratulations to Bill and Janet Stewart, winners of our Taste & Travel contest; courtesy of Aeroplan, they will be fulfilling a lifelong ambition to travel to Italy. Back home, we are reviving our VQA Spend & Get initiative: spend $25 or more on VQA wines and get 25 bonus Aeroplan points; spend $50 or more and get 75 bonus points—another win-win opportunity for Ontario’s wine producers and for you, our valued customers. Wishing you a safe and boun tiful autumn,

Dear Friends,

Autumn is almost here, the season of change—it is for tuitous then that this marks a shift in how customers can shop for beverage alcohol. As the exclusive wholesaler for grocery and convenience stores, we have been supporting thousands of Ontario businesses to become responsible retailers. Partici pating convenience stores are now selling eligible products; on October 31, more grocery and big-box stores will join them. Meanwhile, as part of our vision to deliver remarkable experi ences as the trusted destination for the world’s wines, beers and spirits, customers can now pick up 12, 24, or 30 packs of beer at over 250 LCBO stores or on lcbo.com for delivery. We’re pleased to provide everything you need, all in one place. As loyal Food & Drink read ers will know, autumn is also the season when we shine the spotlight on local Ontario VQA wine producers, not just in the magazine but online and in all our stores. Keep an eye out for this year’s campaign called ‘Bring Home Ontario.’ To help make sure we have the knowl edge and expertise to help you find the perfect choice, we’ve sent more than 500 LCBO Ontario wine ambassadors and Store Managers to wine country in Niagara, Lake Erie North Shore and Prince Edward County to experience the world-class wines available in the province. They’ll be ready to share their expertise with you, offering great advice on value, variety, and food pairings for all your fall celebrations, enhancing the occasion and simultaneously supporting our local wine industry. Talking of support, our fifth annual Spirit of Sustainability (SoS) Impact Report is now up online. It will keep you up to

GEORGE SOLEAS President & CEO, LCBO

2

AUTUMN 2024