It could take a few weeks for businesses to replenish their inventory, but this past weekend was likely the last one of serious shortages
The City Cannabis Co. store on Cambie Street has restocked smaller quantities of most of its offerings, but it will still take a few weeks to get full inventory onto its shelves after a strike by liquor distribution and wholesale workers ended last week.
“Maybe we’ll be able to fit in a bigger order this week,” said assistant store manager Jared Barney.
Barney added there are still buying limits so “everyone can get their hands on some (products)” and sales have been helped by customers calling ahead to check availability rather than just dropping in and being disappointed.
A two-week strike by 950 liquor distribution and wholesale workers with the B.C. General Employees Union starting on Aug. 15 had disrupted supply and forced dozens of cannabis stores to shut down and lay off hundreds of employees. Many had to at least temporarily close locations.
City Cannabis kept its Cambie Street location running, but shut its Robson and Fraser Street locations and said it had to lay off 40 staff. It has now been able to reopen the Robson location and bring back some employees, said Barney.
Cannabis stores were the hardest hit by the job action because their products are completely sourced through the liquor distribution warehouses. But getting operations anywhere back to normal for restaurants, bars and clubs is also expected to take at least a few weeks.
In total, there are about 8,000 licensees, including restaurants, clubs and bars, as well as 200 government liquor stores and 670 private stores that have been rushing to place orders with the warehouses since the BCGEU said on Aug. 30 its workers would be going back on the job “as a sign of good faith” and it would continue meeting with the government to finalize a tentative contract agreement.
It could take a few weeks for businesses to replenish their inventory, but this past weekend was likely the last one of serious shortages, said Jeff Guignard, executive director, The Alliance of Beverage Licensees
Others were more cautious about the pace of a return to normal.
“Our (liquor distribution branch) store was expecting 18 pallets before the weekend, but only eight pallets were delivered,” said Eric Fergie, owner of Fets Whisky Kitchen on Commercial Drive. “So it feels nothing has changed. There is still a three-bottle limit at the government liquor stores.”
He said there was some concern that talks between the government and the union could break down again.
“Things are slowly ramping up and our locations received orders this week, but they were not complete likely due to stock issues at the depot as they reopen,” said Jason Forbes, president and chief operating officer at Tap & Barrel Group.
Forbes has been watching the situation closely and has now set an opening date of Sept. 27 for a new Tap & Barrel location in South Surrey.
“If there is no further job action, we should be able to open with most items, but it is unclear if it will be our full list. We hope to know more by the end of (next) week as we should hear more about stock levels and delivery times.”
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Source: vancouversun.com
