Brewers' Distributor Ltd.
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Brewers' Distributor Ltd. or BDL is a Canadian company that distributes beer throughout the four western provinces and three northern territories. It is a private joint venture company owned by InBev (parent company of Labatt Breweries) and Molson-Coors (parent company of Molson Breweries following the Molson-Coors merger). The company was established in 1995 when Pacific Brewers Distributor in British Columbia, Alberta Brewers Agents, Saskatchewan Brewers Association and Associated Beer Distributors in Manitoba (all of which were owned or largely owned by the present two shareholders) were consolidated into a single operation. BDL operates nine distribution centres and four cross dock facilities in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The head office is located in Calgary.
There are a few key differences between BDL and Brewers Retail Inc. which operates under largely the same ownership in the neighboring province of Ontario. First, BDL does not retail beer to consumers, it is only in the warehousing and distribution business. Second, although BDL distributes the vast majority of beer sold in Western Canada it has not been granted monopolistic privileges by any provincial government. Other domestic breweries are free to distribute their own beer if they wish - some non-shareholders (such as the Big Rock and Sleeman Breweries) have their own distribution chains although others voluntarily use BDL. Third, BDL has been permitted to distribute some brands of imported beer since 2001 except in Alberta where the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission had already contracted out its entire distribution operation to a private company and as of 2006 continues to grant Connect Logistics Inc. the exclusive right to distribute imported beer to Alberta's privately owned establishments and stores. BRI stocks imported beer in its The Beer Store locations but this beer is purchased through the Liquor Control Board of Ontario.
BDL does not distribute wine or distilled spirits in any province. These are distributed in Alberta by the AGLC through its private contractor, and in the other western provinces and territores by their respective government-owned liquor corporations.
