One of Ontario’s most popular liquor store products may soon disappear from LCBO shelves, following a brewing dispute between the Ontario government and Crown Royal’s parent company, Diageo.
In August, Diageo announced its decision to cease operations at its bottling facility in Amherstburg, Ontario early next year, shifting some of its bottling work to the United States. The announcement has sparked strong reactions, including from Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who publicly expressed his frustration by pouring out a bottle of Crown Royal during a press conference shortly after the news broke.
Premier’s office spokesperson Hannah Jensen stated that the province’s preference is for Diageo to reverse its decision. “If they don’t, all options, including removing Crown Royal from the LCBO, are on the table,” she told INsauga.com.
Crown Royal has long been considered a Canadian staple, and remains one of the best-selling whisky brands on the LCBO website. The potential removal of the product could have a significant impact on both consumers and the brand’s Canadian market presence.
Diageo has said it remains committed to maintaining a “significant footprint” in Canada, including its corporate headquarters and warehouse operations in the Greater Toronto Area, along with bottling and distillation facilities in Manitoba and Quebec. The company also stated that Crown Royal products destined for the Canadian market will continue to be mashed, distilled, and aged at Canadian facilities, and bottled domestically.
The decision to close the Amherstburg plant is part of Diageo’s broader operational shift, but has raised concerns about job losses and economic impact in the local community. The company has pledged to work with Unifor and community partners to support affected employees during the transition.
The situation has drawn comparisons to the tariff dispute between Canada and the United States, during which Ontario removed U.S.-made alcohol from the LCBO and urged consumers to support Canadian-made products.
The Ontario government has not yet made a final decision regarding the removal of Crown Royal from the LCBO, but officials have signalled that all options remain open as discussions continue.