Alberta Retailers Face Delivery Crisis as Brewer Distributor Fails

Disruptions in beer and cooler deliveries by Brewer Distributor Ltd. (BDL) have severely impacted liquor retailers across Alberta. The issues began just before the Labour Day long weekend and have left store shelves empty, creating financial strains for many businesses in the region. Retailers report that they are struggling to fulfill customer demand while facing significant delays in receiving their orders.

Jennifer Bird, owner of Urban Cellars located at 506A 10 St. N.W., expressed frustration over the situation. “I’ve got four orders I’ve put through that I haven’t received,” she stated. Bird mentioned that the last delivery from BDL arrived on August 11, and her most recent order, placed the previous Monday, was expected by Friday but did not arrive. Retailers are required to pay Alberta Gaming Liquor Cannabis (AGLC) for their orders, which creates additional pressure as they must pay for products that are not delivered. “I have $15,000 sitting with the AGLC,” Bird added.

The delivery issues have not only affected Urban Cellars. Keith LaBorde, assistant manager of the store, noted that their beer cooler is currently half empty. He described the situation as “a major, major disruption.” Despite some partial deliveries arriving in the past two weeks, the quantities have not met customer preferences, coming in cases of 15 or 24 cans instead of the usual smaller sizes.

Other liquor stores have reported similar problems. Rankaj Koundan, owner of Dave’s Liquor at 1540 16 Ave. N.W., stated, “We haven’t seen deliveries in the past two weeks.” In contrast, Minkal Garg, owner of Sundown Liquor, mentioned that while the disruption was significant, deliveries appeared to be improving. “For two weeks we didn’t get anything; we’ve heard there was a cyber attack on BDL,” Garg noted. “People were panicking, but the orders are coming through now.”

The ripple effects of this delivery crisis have been felt throughout the province, leading to lost revenue during a critical sales period. Ivonne Martinez, president of the Alberta Liquor Store Association, highlighted the ongoing challenges for retailers. “A lot of people are still having a difficult time ordering because BDL is still catching up, and the credit for that beer is being held until they get their ducks in a row,” she said.

As many stores continue to navigate these issues, the long-term implications for Alberta’s liquor retail landscape remain uncertain. The combination of a hot summer and the Labour Day holiday typically represents a prime time for sales, making the current disruptions particularly impactful. Retailers are now left hoping for a swift resolution to the delivery problems, which have already caused considerable inconvenience and financial strain.