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For Immediate Release
October 10, 2011

Cheers, Ontario!
Peace Bridge Duty Free Applauds LCBO Price Reduction

Fort Erie, ON –Peace Bridge Duty Free is stocked and ready for a flood of cross-border shoppers eager to take advantage of their lower-priced alcohol, thanks to the LCBO’s decision to reduce its markups on liquor sold to Ontario Duty Free shops.

“We’re very excited,” says Glenn Mills, General Manager of the Peace Bridge Duty Free, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.  “We applaud the provincial government for making the right decision – not only for border cities like Fort Erie, but the Ontario economy.  This decision allows us to offer even more competitive pricing to our customers and gives us the opportunity to broaden our inventory with a more extensive range of products”

Last month, the LCBO announced it would be lowering its markup on spirits, low-alcohol spirits and brandy, bringing alcohol pricing at Ontario’s land border Duty Free shops in line with their U.S. competition.  The duty free program was originally created by the Federal government to retain sales and economic activity in Canada. The change to the program was created in response to a consultant’s report suggesting that if the LCBO were to reduce their mark up and thereby allow duty free stores in Ontario to compete with US liquor store prices, it would have a positive impact on the Canadian economy, resulting in new jobs in border communities. Peace Bridge Duty Free has already initiated these lower prices effective October 6th in time for the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend.

Tania Lee, spokesperson for the Ontario Duty Fee Association, said she was thrilled Ontario Duty Free Stores will be retaining sales that would have otherwise gone to the U.S.  The new revenue will contribute to new employment and boost economic activity, she predicted – not only in Fort Erie, but also in other border cities across the province.

“On behalf of Ontario’s land border duty free shop operators, I would like to express our sincere appreciation for (this) decision,” Lee said in a September 2 press release.

Peace Bridge Duty Free, located at the Fort Erie, On - Buffalo, NY border crossing, is one of the largest Duty Free stores in North America with over 28,000 square feet of tax and duty free shopping that includes a full service McDonalds and Tim Horton’s. The Peace Bridge crossing is considered to be one of the fastest and most direct routes to the USA.
 
For further information please contact:
Glenn Mills     Tania Lee
Peace Bridge Duty Free   Ontario Duty Free Association
1-800-361-1302    519-332-4680
glennm@dutyfree.ca    tlee@bridgedutyfree.com