Local craft beer producer worries smaller operators 'don’t stand a chance' in Kitchener beer bidding process
A local craft beer producer is calling on the city of Kitchener to do more to support smaller breweries. They say the bidding process to be the preferred beer supplier at city run sports venues, only gives big brands a chance.
“I’d just like to have the opportunity to have a level playing field,” said co-owner of Block 3 Brewing, Graham Spence.
Meantime, the city says there’s equal opportunity for all.
Last week, the City of Kitchener opened bidding to look for a preferred beer supplier at city operated sports venues, but one local producer believes small operations don’t stand a chance at the contract.
“We live and work in the region. We employ people in the region and you know, it would be nice if we had support from the entities in the region, such as the City of Kitchener. And I think that’s the biggest point here, is that you know, why aren’t we supporting local,” Spence said.
He says the process is designed for larger breweries to bid on. According to the city, there is a second contract coming up for a secondary supplier which would be a better opportunity for smaller operations.
The city says the premier supplier needs to have a lot of resources to make it a successful partnership.
“That’s really because the capital funds and cash flow [are] required [in order] to be the premier production so they have the ability to supply a diverse portfolio of products,” Scott said.
The contract would see the winning brand featured at city owned sports facilities like the sportsplex, various golf courses as well as at the Aud. The city says Four Fathers Brewing, a local Cambridge-based craft beer company, currently holds the rights to the secondary supplier contract, which expires soon and will be back out to tender in September.
“The secondary non-premier opportunity…is generally targeted towards smaller breweries, and so, the incentive there is advertising and marketing opportunities and the ability to supply up to three canned beverages,” Scott explained.
The premier supplier would be locked in for five years and is currently held by Molson Canada. Bidding for that contract has been extended with a closing date of September 5.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
After another Liberal loss, Trudeau says there are 'all sorts of reflections' to do
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he's going to 'stay focused' on governing after being handed his second byelection upset in recent months.
A wave of exploding pagers in Lebanon and Syria kills at least 8, including members of Hezbollah
Hundreds of handheld pagers exploded near simultaneously across Lebanon and in parts of Syria on Tuesday, killing at least eight people, including members of the militant group Hezbollah and a girl, and wounding the Iranian ambassador, government and Hezbollah officials said.
More non-smokers are getting lung cancer. Here's why and how you can protect yourself, according to a doctor
More people who have never touched a cigarette are getting lung cancer, but there are ways to prevent it, according to a doctor.
These people say they got listeria after drinking recalled plant-based milks
The Canadian Press spoke to 10 people, from the parents of a toddler to an 89-year-old senior, who say they became sick with listeria after drinking from cartons of plant-based milk stamped with the recalled product code. Here's a look at some of their experiences.
Canada's inflation cools to 2% in August, the smallest gain since early 2021
Canada's annual inflation rate reached the central bank's target in August at it cooled to 2 per cent, its lowest level since February 2021, data showed on Tuesday.
Ontario man who almost fell for text scam issues warning to others
An Ontario man thought he got some good news when he received a text message offering a $30 gift for being a loyal Giant Tiger customer. 'I do go to that store so I clicked on the link and it said it was a customer appreciation award they were going to give people,' Mark Martin, of Simcoe, Ont., told CTV News Toronto.
BREAKING Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been indicted on sex trafficking and racketeering charges
Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been charged with sex trafficking and racketeering, according to a federal indictment unsealed Tuesday.
'On the edge of life': Influencer has a close encounter with a bear after climbing into a den
Influencer Stefan Jankovic shared footage of a terrifying close encounter with a bear after climbing into a den in Bosnia and Herzegovia.
Instagram makes teen accounts private as pressure mounts on the app to protect children
Instagram is making teen accounts private by default as it tries to make the platform safer for children amid a growing backlash against how social media affects young people's lives.