The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is pleased to announce a new initiative that supports small grocers across Ontario. Starting July 15, 2024, the AGCO will accept applications from small grocers and provide those eligible with a rebate on the annual licence fees for new alcohol retail licences.
Key details of the rebate program:
Eligibility: The rebate applies to Grocery Store Licences issued on or after June 17, 2024 where the sum of the annual worldwide revenue of the store, together with all related retail stores is less than $1 billion (CAD).
Application process: All applicants for a Grocery Store Licence must pay the full $3,250 annual fee at the time of application. Once your licence is issued, if you are a small grocer, you may then submit a “Small Grocer Fee Rebate Request” through the iAGCO portal. If you are eligible for the rebate, your licence fee will be partially refunded. Rebates will be issued upon confirmation of eligibility that demonstrates the grocery store's total annual worldwide revenue (together with all related retail stores) is less than $1 billion (CAD).
The rebate application only needs to be submitted one-time, per licence. If a licensee holds more than one Grocery Store Licence, a separate request must be submitted for each licence.
Existing Category B Grocers: The AGCO will contact existing small grocers (Cat B) in advance of your renewal. The fee will be adjusted prior to submitting your renewal.
Rebate amount: Eligible small grocers will receive a $2,250 rebate on their annual grocery store licence fee, effectively reducing the licence fee to $1,000 per year.
Purpose of the rebate: This initiative is designed to reduce the regulatory burden on small businesses, making it easier for them to participate in Ontario’s newly expanded alcohol retail market.
The AGCO will review this rebate program in 2029 to ensure its ongoing effectiveness. For more information or to apply for the rebate, please contact: AGCO at customer.service@agco.ca or call us at: General: 416-326-8700 | Toll-free in Ontario: 1-800-522-2876