“Caring, Every Day” is the theme of this year’s report. We chose this theme to show the many ways LCBO employees and customers care. This theme is brought to life throughout the report in five sections: Caring for Community, Caring for the Environment, Caring for Customers, Caring for Quality and Caring for Employees.

In fiscal 2009-10, LCBO’s dividend to the provincial government increased to $1.41 billion, $10 million higher than 2008-09. It marked the 16th straight year LCBO increased its dividend. Net income also set a new record, totalling $1.436 billion and representing a 1.8 per cent increase over the previous year.

GO LOCAL

LCBO continued to support the domestic industry. Ontario VQA table wine sales grew 19 per cent and Ontario craft beer sales rose 49 per cent. Overall beer sales were up 6.3 per cent. Sales of single-serve cans continue to drive category growth as this segment has tripled in volume during the last six years. Spirits, LCBO’s highest margin product category, finished $2.4 million ahead of the year before, marking the 15th consecutive year of spirits growth.

LCBO also continued to upgrade its store network by opening seven new stores and replacing nine other stores to improve product selection and bring older stores up to current LCBO corporate standards. These new stores provide the LCBO with a solid return on investment.

COMMITTED TO CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

LCBO retail staff challenged more than 2.6 million customers who appeared to be underage or intoxicated and refused service to 155,000 (82 per cent for reasons of age). In 2009-10, LCBO raised $4.2 million for charities through special programs and initiatives; most of this money was raised by customers at the checkout via the monthly province-wide donation box program.