You don't need a distributor. You can start the learning process here......http://www.lcbo.com/content/lcbo/en/corporate-pages/about/aboutourbusiness/importing.html You are in the us though according to the location you have on your account. Why are you importing into Canada? Enjoy!
That is what I do, beer mail me well connected across Canada. The American dollar vs the Canadian dollar is going to be your biggest hurdle though. Great American beers are getting dusted and expiring up here as you can get a well made Canadian six pack for the price of an American bomber.
If you want to get into Ontario, the biggest market, you need an agent. All sales are through the LCBO, but the agent can help with distro to bars and getting your products listed at the LCBO. I think grocery stores present the biggest oppourtunity for American craft beer that is not listed at the LCBO at the moment. It would make sense for grocery stores to target these products and have exclusivity on them. A couple of Ontario agents: Keep 6 Imports The Craft Brand Co.
Companies that bring American beers into Canada? Loads of different distributors bring in US beers. It varies from province to province. Using Alberta as an example: Craft Beer Importers Canada Inc. Horizon Beers Inc. Delancey Direct Incorporated BEERTHISRT Harvest Vintage Imports Ltd. United Distributors High Level Imports Afic Exim (Canada) Corp 49Th Parallel Group Inc. Copper And Theory Artisan Beer Supply and many more. I just did a quick search of the Alberta liquor warehouser (www.liquorconnect.com) and looked at some US beers. All the distributor info is also on there, as well as what beers they represent (in Alberta).
Every province has it own liquor system, each has its own set of rules and five provinces just drastically changed their sets of rules. So just saying we don't have the three tiered system is probably where you should start then the rest pick a province that you have interest in.
In BC, it's a relatively 'easy' process. You need an agent/importer with a license to import who buys whatever beer from you and imports it into Canada, where it then goes to customs for approval. This can take months and is very annoying, especially for hoppy stuff. It gets listed and approved, and then put into the system where stores can order from. Depending on whether it is packaged or kegged that process can be a little different. In theory it should be very quick and easy but it's anything but...
Not exactly as stated there is the LRS and the government system that run parallel to each other and require different warehouses.
Yup. But even that is changing. New rule where government stores can have more local craft products. Also another government store seems to be going rogue an ordering stuff that is usually only available at Container World. See, it's simple Dealt with them for our festival and wanted to scream at someone for the inconsistency.
Don't think the government stores were legislated on how much BC product they could have, know at one time the BC breweries we guaranteed a slot in the store and if the beers well received they could grow in the government store system. Now with over 100 BC breweries in BC they upped it 12 skus shared amongst the BC breweries for the government stores as a minimum. Yup easy peasy mate, ha! Wish the government just got out of the way, the NDP just screwed our system in Alberta with interference.
In Alberta it is still easy to list a beer with an agent, but the NDP raised the mark up rate 525% thus it is rarely price effective anymore to import.
Guys, i want to start import craft beer from Russia to BC, buy don't sell it through liquore store. I want to import it in kegs and sell it to pubs. This is a new business to me and i have couple of questions, would appreciate if you share your experience. 1. Can i distribute it by myself or i need some special permission? 2. Is it hard for a Cannadian company ro receive import license for beer?
Contact your provincial liquor board and start the paper work process. You will have to become a registered agent first which is part of the provincial liquor board paperwork.
From what i understand fhere are only 4 approved draft distributors/agents in ontario. F*cking lcbo ans their BS monopolies. Good luck importing draft into Ontario.
