Atlantic liquor corps come together to save cash

The various liquor commissions in Atlantic Canada are starting to see the benefits of working together.

This summer, the four Atlantic premiers asked their respective liquor commissions to find ways to co-operate in order to save money.

Marcelle Saulnier, the head of communications at NB Liquor said managers from the four liquor commissions —Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation (NLC), NB Liquor, Nova Scotia Liquor Commission (NSLC) and the P.E.I. Liquor Control Commission (PEILCC) — have found ways to reduce costs.

They've agreed to buy some products together in order to benefit from bulk shipping rates.

Joint orders also allow them to buy products where the minimum order would be more than each individual province could sell.

Saulnier said that works particularly well for small purchases.

For example, she said, "we filled an order with NLSC for Trader Vic's Macadamia Nuts [Liqueur]."

Saulnier said the four Atlantic provinces have also set up an internal distribution system.

This allows them to deal with overstocked products that aren't selling in one province but are attracting customers in other provinces.

"We were overstocked with Bud Light Lime; we had too much inventory with an expiry date of mid-December."

This fall, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland took 1,000 cases each of that beer.

Saulnier said the savings go to the provinces.

However, for consumers she said it means more selection and less pressure to raise prices.