LCBO Food & Drink Spring 2023

LCBO NOTES

From our President &CEO

Dear Friends, The Spring edition of Food & Drink is always a sign that a new season is on the horizon; something to look forward to after a long winter. The warmer weather also offers more opportunities to bring family and friends together in celebration, so you may be glad to hear we’re offering an early release of 90 new Ready-to-Drink products, guaranteed to be crowd-pleasers for any occasion. While we’re longing for the warm weeks to come, let’s take a moment to look back at the year so far. In January, we announced that we raised more than $7 million for Ontario’s children’s charities during the holiday season. This was only possible thanks to the incredible generosity of our customers across the province and our dedicated retail teams. February was Black History Month, and we were proud to join the province in celebrating the meaningful contributions Black Ontarians have made over the decades. The LCBO is committed to building a culture where every employee feels valued, respected and heard, and to continuing the work still to be done to address racism and injustice in Ontario. This March, we launched our annual Equity campaign in support of International Women’s D ay . Across our stores and online we spotlighted women who are leading in the beverage alcohol industry. From master blenders and winemakers to CEOs and microbiologists, we celebrated their talents, expertise and products which we’re proud to offer to our customers. We were equally proud to announce new scholarship recipients as part of our Spirit of Inclusion program. Together with our Good Partners, we are creating opportunities for diverse women to thrive through scholarships, bursaries and mentorship opportunities. It’s all part of our Spirit of Sustainability platform and our commitment to enhance industry diversity. Please visit LCBO.com/sustainability to learn more. I would also like to offer sincere thanks to all our customers who supported our annual fundraising efforts for the Women’s College Hospital Foundation as it seeks to transform healthcare for groups facing social and economic marginalization

across Ontario. Over the last four years, we have collectively raised over $5 million for the hospital. Our social impact continues in April, with the launch of our Shine Sustainable campaign, which makes it easy for customers to shop for sustainable products from our Good Partners who are taking steps to protect the environment. We’re also sharing the ways in which the LCBO is reducing its own carbon footprint by transitioning to eco-friendly gift cards, offering reusable recycled bags instore, and expanding its lightweight bottle program. Throughout the month, we will be fundraising in all our stores for Tree Canada, the only national non-profit organization dedicated to planting and nurturing trees in rural and urban environments across the country. The LCBO has a goal of planting 91,000 trees to benefit generations to come. Wishing you a safe and enjoyable springtime.

GEORGE SOLEAS President & CEO, LCBO

PHOTOGRAPH BY LCBO BROADCAST PRODUCTION

12 FOOD & DRINK SPRING 2023