The BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) is pleased with the announcement that a tentative agreement has been reached. As of Monday, October 27, the LDB is resuming wholesale operations following the conclusion of strike action.
The LDB is welcoming back employees and resuming operations in the distribution centres, Wholesale Customer Centres (Vancouver and Victoria), vendor and supply chain-related services. BCLIQUOR (BCL) retail locations will also reopen to support hospitality customers.
This update outlines what customers and suppliers can expect as part of the restart of wholesale operations today and in the coming weeks, as wholesale operations teams work to restore service levels as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Outbound Shipping
Orders received prior to the September 22 shutdown are actively shipping from distribution centres. Deliveries may occur outside of normal windows, and customers will be notified by email when their orders are released.
Non Stocked Wholesale Product (NSWP) fulfillment is being processed on a best-effort basis and, while we aim to deliver as soon as possible, delays are likely during this initial restart phase. Single bottle pick service remains suspended during the restart period, and new orders are not being accepted.
Inbound Appointments
LDB distribution centres (DC) are actively rescheduling inbound appointments that were missed during the first week of strike action. Vendors impacted by these missed appointments are being contacted directly by DC staff.
Vendors may begin booking appointments with the DCs following the standard process. We understand that there will be a high volume of appointment requests and your appointment will be scheduled as capacity allows.
Web Store & Customer Support
Preparations are underway to reopen the Web Store and Wholesale Customer Centres (WCC) in Vancouver and Victoria today. An update will be provided this afternoon on the Wholesale Operations website confirming when these services will be available. As customers prepare to place their initial orders, we kindly request that orders are within their receiving capacity. Customers with pending payment retries will be contacted and supported before ordering services resume.
We appreciate your patience as our teams work to support a smooth and stable reopening.
Vendor Support Services Restart Plan Details
As vendor-facing support services resume across key areas, some delays are expected due to the volume of requests and backlog processing. Services are being prioritized based on urgency and order of receipt, and we appreciate your continued patience.
New Product Registrations & Vendor Inquiries
New product registrations, product data updates, and vendor setup inquiries are being processed on a first-in, first-out basis.
Demand Planning
New purchase orders are being issued to support inventory replenishment. The team is reviewing on-hand supply and coordinating short-term inventory flow with vendors.
Product Allocations & RAC Orders
Product allocations are resuming and will be processed in the order received. RAC orders continue as per normal service and remain active.
Wholesale Pricing
The current focus is on Period 9 wholesale price changes and promotions, that were due October 22. New product pricing is being processed on a first-in, first-out basis. Wholesale Price Management (WPM) remains available for price changes.
Imports
Import clearance is resuming, with files being reviewed in the order they were received. The team is actively working through the backlog and contacting vendors as needed. Consideration is also being given to product availability within the province, with efforts focused on clearing product that is in limited supply to help maintain supply continuity.
Enterprise Data Services (EDS)
External data report subscriptions are resuming, starting with the oldest pending requests.
Supplier Payments
Supplier payments will continue to be made at modified terms (net seven days) for liquor suppliers during the restart. We will share an update once standard payment terms resume. If you believe you are missing any payment, please contact LDB Accounts Payable at Accounts.Payable@bcldb.com.
We will post a follow-up communication on the Wholesale Operations website this afternoon with details on when Web Store and WCCs will reopen.
Looking ahead, we will also share further updates next week to provide greater visibility into service levels, turnaround times, and key operational timelines.
Thank you again for your continued patience and understanding. For up-to-date information, please continue to visit the LDB Wholesale Operations website at www.wholesale.bcldb.com.