Ministry Consulting OCSA on Unregulated Tobacco
The Ministry of Finance is consulting on addressing unregulated tobacco in Ontario. The OCSA will be participating in round tables and providing recommendations to the Ministry of Finance on ways to address illegal tobacco issues in Ontario. The OCSA estimates that over one third of cigarette sales are unregulated and do not comply with federal […]
Lottery Represents Opportunity For Convenience Stores
Convenience stores sell 75% of all lottery products in Ontario with this category representing our single largest traffic generator in conjunction with the OLG. Many new games are regularly launched by our partners at the OLG, creating customer interest and excitement while allowing for additional impulse sales. Large Lotto Max and 649 jackpots have brought […]
OCSA Remains Committed To Adding Beer And Wine
We are sure many are disappointed with the slow down on the roll out of beer and to the convenience store sector and want to assure everyone that this government is still committed to the channel and customer convenience for beer and wine. The OCSA has informed the government of our customers’ expectations as well as […]
Confusion Around Vaping Products Remains
The vape category remains under scrutiny from all levels of government and this can be attributed to the various health groups targeting the convenience store channel by creating confusion within the category. Health Canada actually made a statement as follows: “Between July and December 2019, Health Canada inspectors visited more than 3,000 specialty vape shops […]
OCSA Gala Supper & Networking Event
The Board of Directors of the OCSA are pleased to announce our keynote speaker at the 2020 OCSA Gala is Rick Rabba – President of Rabba Fine Foods & CJR Wholesale at upcoming convenience store industry Gala. We encourage you to join us at the conclusion of the Convenience U show on opening day to […]
Credit Card Fees To Drop For Canadian Retailers
In an effort to reduce credit card fees, the federal government has committed to having credit card companies drop the amount they charge retailers starting in April, 2020 as part of an agreement with Visa and MasterCard. The fees will drop from 1.5% down to 1.4% on averaged. As well they have promised to remove […]
Clarifying New Rules Regarding Vaping Products
There have been a number of clarifications around vaping laws recently and the onus falls on convenience store operators to comply with ongoing changes required by the government as issues continue to surface. The convenience store channel is already the best at ensuring youth have no access to either tobacco or vape products so let’s […]
Progress Toward Beer/Wine Continues
The Ontario Convenience Stores Association is recognized by this government as the representative and largest convenience store advocacy group in Ontario. This is a result of 35 years representing your interests, both manufacturers and retailers on all issue that affect our ability to serve Ontarians in every community. Beverage alcohol or the introduction of beer/wine […]
9 Tips For Handling The Transition To Plain Packaging
By now many convenience stores will have started to receive some of their higher volume cigarettes and tobacco products in the new plain packaging. These have arrived while much of the previous stock remains on the shelf, causing confusion. Retailers have until February 1, 2020 to sell through their slower moving coloured products and the […]
Ontario Beverage Alcohol Oversight and Changes
The Minister of Finance tabled the fall economic statement yesterday in an Omnibus bill that has gone through first reading. There were many references throughout the Bill that referred to the beverage alcohol oversight and changes. The OCSA along with several different stakeholders were invited to a technical briefing last week for a review and […]