Beer, Wine & Liquor Retailing in Canada: Market Size, Businesses & Forecast 2026

The Beer, Wine & Liquor Retailing industry in Canada comprises establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of packaged alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption. According to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the industry generated total operating revenues of $25.3 billion in 2023, exhibiting a marginal increase from the $25.1 billion recorded in 2022. More recent comprehensive data from Statistics Canada indicates that total sales by liquor authorities and other retail outlets reached $25.8 billion in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, reflecting a 1.6% decline from the previous fiscal year due to contracting consumer volumes. The sector is navigating s

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What does the Beer, Wine & Liquor Retailing in Canada industry cover?

This industry captures establishments dedicated to the off-premise retail sale of packaged beer, wine, and distilled spirits. It encompasses dedicated public and private package stores, specialty wine shops, and duty-free liquor outlets operating across Canadian provinces. The scope strictly excludes establishments that serve alcoholic beverages for immediate, on-premise consumption, such as bars, taverns, and restaurants.

• •Classified under the official North American Industry Classification System as NAICS code 445310.
• •Includes both government-owned retail operations and authorized private sector retail licensees.
• •Excludes on-premise drinking establishments which are tracked under NAICS 722410.

Who operates in the industry and how is it structured?

The Canadian marketplace is uniquely defined by a hybrid structure where provincial and territorial governments exert significant administrative and retail control. According to Canadian Industry Statistics, there were 3,895 registered establishments operating in this retail tier as of 2025. Small and medium-sized enterprises represent the vast majority of physical retail storefronts, though provincial liquor boards command dominant market shares via wholesale distribution and direct public retail networks.

• •A total of 3,895 active industry establishments were tracked nationally by the government in 2025.
• •SMEs with fewer than 100 employees constituted 99.2% of the industry's total establishments in 2025.
• •Provincial crown corporations act as the primary structural anchor, operating as exclusive wholesalers and major retailers.

What drives demand in the industry?

Retail sales performance is dictated by shifting consumer lifestyle trends, demographic adjustments, and inflation-driven pricing changes. Data for the 2024/2025 fiscal year demonstrates a clear contraction in per capita consumption, with Canadian adults purchasing an average of 8.0 standard drinks per week, down from 8.7 in the prior year. This long-term trend highlights a structural shift toward moderate consumption habits and substitute product categories.

• •Average weekly per capita alcohol consumption fell to 8.0 standard drinks in 2024/2025, down from 9.7 a decade prior.
• •Overall alcohol sales by volume declined by 3.0% to 2,898 million litres in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025.
• •Retail prices for alcohol rose by 1.6% from March 2024 to March 2025, which partially offset falling sales volumes.

Who are the notable companies in the industry?

The commercial ecosystem features a combination of monopolistic provincial liquor boards, provincial beer retail syndicates, and highly prominent public grocery chains that have secured local beer and wine licenses. The primary operators controlling or executing retail trade include massive provincial authorities alongside commercial corporate groups. Publicly traded companies active within Canada's broader alcoholic beverage distribution, retail, or integrated production-retail environment influence regional private market tiers.

• •Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) and Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) operate as the largest retail and wholesale entities in their respective provinces.
• •The Beer Store (operating legally as Brewers Retail Inc.) manages a massive private retail network across Ontario.
• •Loblaw Companies Limited and Empire Company Limited act as major commercial grocery retailers distributing beer and wine within permitted provincial frameworks.
• •Andrew Peller Limited and Corby Spirit and Wine Limited operate as notable publicly traded Canadian corporations heavily integrated into the domestic product supply and retail pipeline.

What are the recent trends and outlook?

The industry is experiencing highly divergent performance across product segments, highlighted by steady declines in legacy categories and robust growth in alternative beverages. For the 2024/2025 fiscal year, beer remained the top category with a 35.1% market share ($9.1 billion), followed by wine at 29.7% ($7.7 billion) and spirits at 25.8% ($6.7 billion). Ciders and coolers represent the lone expansion category, growing by 4.8% to reach a total value of $2.4 billion.

• •Total wine sales contracted by 2.2% to $7.7 billion in 2024/2025, driven heavily by a first-ever decline in imported wine sales.
• •Sales of ciders and coolers expanded by 4.8% to $2.4 billion in 2024/2025, marking the second consecutive year as the sole growing segment.
• •Domestic products captured 60.6% of total Canadian alcohol sales value in 2024/2025, up from 59.0% the previous year.

How is the industry regulated?

Retailing is governed under strict provincial and federal statutory frameworks that control licensing, physical retail formats, and pricing structures. Provincial and federal governments leverage these retail frameworks as vital revenue mechanisms, collecting net income, duties, and specific levies from retail transactions. In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, governments generated $13.1 billion solely from the control and sale of alcohol.

• •Total government revenue from alcohol control and sales reached $13.1 billion in 2024/2025, a decrease of 4.2% from the prior year.
• •Provincial authorities enforce localized compliance including minimum retail pricing floors and strict age verification mandates.
• •Evolving provincial regulations continue to alter market dynamics by progressively expanding alcohol sales licenses to convenience stores and supermarkets.

Government, statistical and trade sources used for this Claight analysis.

• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada: Canadian Industry Statistics 2023-2025 ·
• Statistics Canada: Control and Sale of Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Program 2024/2025 ·
• Statistics Canada: Monthly Retail Trade Sales by Industry 2025