Rogue Dead Guy in the LCBO system (and it's everywhere!)

[crawler]

Although I'm in downtown Toronto and fairly close to one of the major stores where they pretty much have everything current in stock, for anyone else elsewhere in the province, is there a central phone number or e-mail address where you could complain that your nearest location isn't bringing in the microbrews or seasonals that we should all be getting?

There must be a central way to fix or complain against poor local store management who consistently aren't ordering the seasonal or micro beer inventory that the central HQ is bringing in?

To me, that's the only way to let those in power of the overall system know that the smaller centres aren't bringing in good beers, although there is demand for it. If you don't speak up, they'll never know about it.

[Belgian]

Funny when I drink this now I crave the hopping of Brutal Bitter. The yeast character is similar I guess so there is the mental association.

Hops are a corrupting influence! Hopefully the RBB will see its way back here once again as well.

[Bytowner]

Funny when I drink this now I crave the hopping of Brutal Bitter. The yeast character is similar I guess so there is the mental association.

Hops are a corrupting influence! Hopefully the RBB will see its way back here once again as well.

The Brutal Bitter was excellent, even for a non-hophead like me. A really great beer, I'm looking forward to trying the DGA.

[esprit]

Seasonal releases are "forced" into a certain number of stores which is around 100. Most get 1 or 2 cases but have no obligation to re-order, many don't...often there is no stock to re-order. General Listings can be forced into anywhere from 45 stores to 100+. All other stores have the option of ordering as they receive product bulletins...some do, most don't. All you can do is talk to the store manager as Head Office level communications won't get you anywhere . Listings, other than "core" (Heineken, Guinness, etc...) are at the option of the store manager. My local store is not on the seasonal beer program but the store manager cares about beer and brings in every seasonal. He isn't even on the forces for General List beers yet he brings them all in and has Dead Guy and ST IPA (Dundas & Jane). Unfortunately, many store managers would rather have fewer SKU's than more and look for opportunities to de-list products. Put pressure on your local store manager and don't think there is one person at H.O. who can resolve the problem.

[bujubanton]

and speaking of the stores...I was at the summerhill LCBO today..
The ST IPA and Rogue Dead Guy could not have been farther out of the way than if they were in storage.
They were at the absolute back of the beer section, which is tucked away at the back of the store. In fact, you would only stumble into them if you were walking back to the storage area.
This is ridiculous. For every two-bit wine they bring in, they have employees offering samples, pushing the product.
But I guess they think they are above selling good beer...hard not to roll your eyes at their attitude.

[Belgian]

** everything Peter just said.**

Steelback, feel free to chime in here.

[lister]

I was at the Summerhill LCBO on Friday and unless they were moved since then, they were located at the end section of aisle four. Walking down the right side of the beer section (cooler side), it wasn't at all difficult to spot, even if you weren't looking for them.

How much was there? There was quite a bit on Friday. Maybe the numbers dwindled as people bought them so the remnants got moved further down. Assuming we are of course talking about different sections.

[bujubanton]

the cooler is at the absolute back of the store...by the storage..that's what I meant (since most people enter from the wine side)...

Could they not at least move it up front in the beer section?

[SteelbackGuy]

** everything Peter just said.**

Steelback, feel free to chime in here.

Sorry for the slight delay in my post.

Peter is absolutely 100% correct.

Major stores (like the fancy big ones) and really busy stores (called A stores or AA stores, there's even an AAA store in Ottawa) are forced the seasonal beer products much like regular stores are forced to take Molson Canadian.

Other stores have the option of ordering the beer releases. The stores is sent a book usually a few months ahead of time, and the "beer guy" can go through it and decide what he wants to carry.

As we all know, some of the "beer guys" decide not to order these beer releases, which is why we have some stores that do not see a single product from the releases.

Stores can also decide to go on the beer program, which means that they get pretty much every beer in the system, from the ethnic beers, to the swill like yankee jims, and colt 45, to all of the beer releases. Often the big stores will be on this program. (Summerhill in T.O, Masonville in London, and Rideau in Ottawa) are some examples of stores that have pretty much every beer.

Some of the smaller stores will concentrate on only the forced SKUs, and won't even have craft beer at all. In these small stores you'll see some Euro lagers, plus all the BMC stuff.
In this case, it is because of lack of room.


Funnily enough, a store can choose not to carry some of the forced stuff. The order just has to be overturned in the system by doing it manually. This is the case in my store, where I work in busiest store in London, but we hardly have any beer releases because our beer guy hates changing the tags and product location, so he opts out of getting the forced beer releases. So then after he does that, I go in and re order them, causing him much frustration, but he is learning that having 20 facings of coors light isn't good for business when people want other things.

[Bytowner]

This is ridiculous. For every two-bit wine they bring in, they have employees offering samples, pushing the product.
But I guess they think they are above selling good beer...hard not to roll your eyes at their attitude.

The producers are responsible for organizing sampling. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[SteelbackGuy]

This is ridiculous. For every two-bit wine they bring in, they have employees offering samples, pushing the product.
But I guess they think they are above selling good beer...hard not to roll your eyes at their attitude.

The producers are responsible for organizing sampling. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

That's correct Bytowner.

The tastings are organized not by the LCBO, but by the representing company.

So for example, when we have a tasting on Bailey's, or Kilkenny, or Guniess, it is organized by Diageo. They rent the space so to speak to have the tasting, and the LCBO employees really have nothing to do with it, other than setting up the bar for the tasting rep.

We also are under no obligation to endorse or seel that product that is being tasted. That is the job of the rep.

Now, you may also notice a staff pick that is up at the cashier. That staff pick IS selected by the staff, and should be done every two weeks. It is an effort by the LCBO to bring attention to consumers, products that they may not have noticed before, and it is also a way to increase impulse buys.

At my store, we have done beer 4 times in the past year. ANchor Liberty, Chapeau Kriek, Trailhead, and Boris have all been staff picks.
We blind taste 5 or 6 beers and everyone selects their favourite.
Each store is different though. I know some places just pick a wine and throw it up there, but this isn't good practice because each store has a budget for tastings, and it should be used accordingly.

[Belgian]

Funnily enough, a store can choose not to carry some of the forced stuff. The order just has to be overturned in the system by doing it manually. This is the case in my store, where I work in busiest store in London, but we hardly have any beer releases because our beer guy hates changing the tags and product location, so he opts out of getting the forced beer releases. So then after he does that, I go in and re order them, causing him much frustration, but he is learning that having 20 facings of coors light isn't good for business when people want other things.

Aha, so here is one "human issue" that builds a "combative" attitude among consumers ready to accuse you as we've discussed:

http://www.bartowel.com/board/viewtopic ... c&start=15

It's almost too bad for all the 'control' in the Liquor Control Board, the 'forced' stocking of products is not reinforced. But it's great that your beer guy (who hates the 'extra' work of organizing & shelf tagging) is now understanding that it's good for business.

You can really see the stores where they never change anything, or things are poorly organized etc. There can be apathy and total shambles, or a great store, or soemthing in between. There is NO overall 'quality control" making every store "standard quality" would you agree?

Keep up the good fight SB.

[JesseM]

Keep up the good fight SB.

Yes, the Force is strong in that one.....use the info he provides wisely in your fight against the dark side.....

Sorry I couldn't resist .