JOIN OCSA

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 […]

OCSA Submission on E-Cigarette Regulation

The OCSA is a not-for-profit trade association that represents the interests of over 6,000 convenience store retailers operating throughout Ontario. The convenience store (c-store) sector is an integral part of the business community of Ontario. Our stores are vital economic and social hubs in the communities they serve, including providing services to some areas that […]

Tobacco Tax Rate Increases

Ontario’s tobacco tax rates are increasing. Official details of the changes published are available here.

Enforcement Team Created to Fight Contraband Tobacco in Ontario

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Create a New Contraband Task Force Located within the OPP’s Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau, the new team will be dedicated to investigating the smuggling and trafficking of contraband tobacco and will work closely with local, provincial, national and international enforcement agencies to combat and eliminate sophisticated contraband tobacco networks across Ontario. […]

13th Annual Race is On Networking Event 2016

THE 13TH ANNUAL OCSA GALA “THE RACE IS ON” Networking Event Woodbine Race Track Woodbine Entertainment Centre Monday, March 7, 2016 Reception: 4:30 pm Special Guest Speaker – Dr. Terry Flynn- Managing Risk in Your Business – 6:00 pm Dinner: 6:30 pm Racing/Slots: 7:30 pm Tickets: 8 at $4,000 per table, plus HST = $4,520 […]

Ontario Bill # 45 Updates and Clarification

The OCSA has completed a meeting with the Ministry of Health and Wellness on Friday December 4th to clarify areas of concern under bill #45 that take effect on January 1st 2016 as well as E Cigarettes and vapour for our members as follows: Flavour Bans: Effective January 1, 2016 all tobacco products with flavours […]

Convenience Store Retailers Welcome Measures in Bill 139 to Address Illegal Tobacco

  CONVENIENCE STORE RETAILERS WELCOME MEASURES IN BILL 139 TO ADDRESS ILLEGAL TOBACCO TORONTO, ONTARIO – (Marketwire – November 17th  2015) – Ontario’s convenience store retailers are welcoming a private member’s bill introduced by MPP Todd Smith (Prince Edward-Hastings) which seeks to address illegal tobacco through new measures for policing agencies and a public education […]