As announced on October 27, the BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) has resumed operations. The first week of the restart went smoothly, and we are largely caught up in our operations.
Our customers and suppliers are incredibly important to us, and we thank everyone for their patience and support during our restart.
This update provides a summary of Week 1 and outlines what customers and suppliers can expect as we move forward.
Progress update:
All orders placed on or before the September 22 strike action have been fulfilled, and all customer shipments that were scheduled in Week 1 have been shipped. In Week 1, we shipped approximately 600,000 cases, across 2,100 customer deliveries throughout the province. Orders are being processed in the order they are received. Our distribution centres continue to operate 24/7 to expedite the assembly and shipping of increased volumes of product.
Additional temporary operational measures are in place, including overtime, weekend shifts, and auxiliary staff across all critical areas. We are working closely with carriers, third-party warehouses, and industry partners to allocate resources and accelerate the resumption of services during this restart phase.
Delivery windows:
Deliveries have mostly returned to standard scheduling, though occasional delays may still occur. While we’re currently unable to provide delivery windows or estimated times of arrival (ETAs), customers will continue to be notified by the Wholesale Customer Centre (WCC) when their orders are released. This approach supports the most efficient supply of product to customers.
As stores prepare to place orders, we kindly ask that they ensure orders are within their receiving capacity. To avoid delays in processing, please confirm that payment is up to date. If an account is currently on hold, stores should contact the WCC once payment has been completed.
Please direct all inquiries to WCC at wholesalehelp@bcldb.com or call 604-775-0681 or 1-888-775-0681.
Non-stocked wholesale product (NSWP) orders:
NSWP orders are being placed and fulfilled on schedule.
Third-party warehouses manage NSWP inventory and transfer products to the LDB, where they are consolidated with customer orders for delivery. If a product is not available in time for the scheduled shipment, it will be included in the customer’s next available order. Orders are processed in the order they are received.
Inbound appointments:
Vendors may continue booking appointments with the distribution centres following the standard process. There are no current delays in appointment availability, and we have weekend receiving slots open to support vendors.
Inbound volumes remain consistent, with approximately 436,000 cases received last week across distribution centres.
Inventory and product availability:
Inventory levels across distribution centres are strong, with approximately 1.77 million cases on hand and 1.33 million available for sale. Overall in-stock levels are at 92%, with beer, wine, and refreshment beverages all above 94%.
Due to ongoing supply constraints, some spirits product supplied by Diageo may be shorted. Several top-selling SKUs, including Smirnoff Red Label, Crown Royal, and Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, continue to have limited availability, which may affect order fulfillment. Replenishment efforts are underway with Diageo, with additional shipments scheduled to arrive at both distribution centres over the coming weeks.
Customers are encouraged to check the Supplier Stock Outs page on the LDB Wholesale Operations website regularly for updates on inventory availability.
BCLIQUOR-serviced hospitality:
To support hospitality customers with replenishing inventory quickly, BCLIQUOR has set up 15 temporary Hospitality Hubs across the province. These hubs continue to service hospitality customers with a selection of top-selling spirits, liqueurs, and import wines. There is no longer a six-bottle limit for spirits.
Thank you for your support and collaboration throughout this restart. We will continue to share updates on the LDB Wholesale Operations website at wholesale.bcldb.com.