City of Toronto Potential Energy Drink Ban
Toronto Public Health is currently reviewing the idea of imposing bans on the sale and marketing of energy drinks at both City-owned venues and private businesses. We know that such restrictions will have a direct economic impact on City facilities as well as retailers. Our members sell energy drinks. The various measures that are currently […]
‘Be the Best’ Age Verification Campaign
Responsible Retailing through Age Testing The OCSA is excited to launch an additional step for in-store employee age challenges of youthful customers to insure they don’t make mistakes when it comes to asking for ID for lottery and tobacco and more importantly they conduct one last question to protect themselves. As an example, employees caught […]
Protect Your Convenience Store – Advice from the OPP
It is every business owner’s responsibility to protect their business and employees from theft, loss and personal injury.
Contraband Tobaccoo Usage Rises Even Higher in 2016
Illegal Tobacco Use in Ontario Surpasses 30% New regulations on legal tobacco products could see contraband rate increase further The Ontario Convenience Store Association (OCSA), has released an updated study on illegal tobacco use across Ontario. For the third year in a row, the use of illegal tobacco has increased in most surveyed locations, and […]
Convenience and Community – What a Convenience Store is All About
The OCSA’s Recommendations for Canada’s Plain Packaging Initiative
The OCSA represents over 6,000 Ontario family run convenience stores in every community. Tobacco is our largest customer category; representing 40-60% of daily sales. Convenience stores have a high reliance on tobacco sales as we sell 95% of all tobacco in Ontario and speed of service is an expectation of all customers. Our industry wants to work with […]
Toronto’s Potential Parking Space Levy Reaches Council
A proposed parking spot levy for Toronto could generate millions of dollars for the city. According to KPMG estimates, even $1 per day applied across each commercial spot could net upwards of $383 million. Alternatively, a 5% parking sales tax could yield $32.8 million if given the greenlight. The proposition was initially put forth last December by […]
Menu Labeling Changes and What They Mean
Why are these menu labeling changes happening? Changes are on the horizon for food retailers, as Canadians embrace healthier lifestyles and make more concerted efforts to manage their diets responsibly. At the beginning of next year, new changes to how retail menus are displayed in-store will provide customers with more information than ever before. What follows is an excerpt […]
Energy Drinks: Local Regulations with Big Implications
Since their introduction into the marketplace over a decade ago, energy drinks have been a vibrant category, drawing the attention of convenience store patrons through unique marketing and robust products. Based on a high price point and increasing popularity, energy drinks are a profitable category for store owners. With about the same amount of caffeine […]
Rising Rural Hydro Rates Hurt Small Business
Discrepancy in hydro rates across the country are punishing small business, especially those located in designated rural areas with exorbitant delivery charges. This higher delivery rate puts businesses on an unlevel playing field and it’s this that needs to stop. The Ontario government continues to subsidize large industrial businesses to reduce their costs while ignoring […]