Association Profile
The IVSA is a member-directed trade association, advocating for the interests of agents, importers, marketing groups, and trade offices who deal with beverage alcohol products across BC and Alberta. We are a registered Non-profit in both provinces.
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The Executive Director and Board of Directors communicate with logistics partners, provincial government officials, liquor boards, liquor licensing, and industry members and associations.
The Executive Assistant manages operations of the IVSA office and membership communications.
The IVSA team organizes the highly anticipated “IVSA Buyer Tasting Salons,” exclusively for trade professionals in Vancouver, Victoria, Whistler, Calgary, and Edmonton.
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IVSA Executive Director - Matthew Watters: executivedirector@ivsa.ca
President: Wendy Austin - Icon Vins Fins
VP BC: Selwyn Rawstron - Empson Canada (BC)
VP Alberta: Jon Watson - Renaissance Wine Merchants
Treasurer: Davor Kovac - Dream Wines
Director: Natino Bellantoni- Enoteca Bacco
Director: Matt Thirlwell- Vintage West Wine Marketing (BC)
Director: Shauna Hansen - Vintage West Wine Marketing (AB)
Director: Carmen D'Onofrio - Stile Brands
Director: Brian Berry - Revelry Imports
Director: Carolyn Badger - Empson Canada (AB)
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Fosters goodwill and collaboration between IVSA members and other participants and groups that comprise the imported liquor industry
Assists in the co-operation with the Provincial Governments and other designated authorities
Administration and advisement of importation regulations affecting the imported wine, beer and spirits industries on behalf of of the members of the society
Guidance of relationships generally between the members, the general public, the various producers represented by the members
Guidance to Provincial Governments leadership and administrative teams designated to regulate the import liquor industry fairly for importers and in business equality alongside domestic product
Sharing of materials and legislation which is conducive to the attainment of the above objectives which can be by education, better industry operations, economies of scale and import logistics
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The IVSA Board of Directors consists of 10 individuals, representing both provinces. Every member of the Board is either a business owner or works in the industry for Import Agencies.
The Directors have the option to appoint a maximum of eight (8) volunteers to serve on an Advisory Board. The purpose of the Advisory Board is to offer advice and guidance to the Directors on matters that are referred to them.
IVSA staff is comprised of an Executive Director and an Executive Assistant
Our association members include Import Liquor Agents, Consular Authorities, Trade Organizations, and partners in Warehouse and Logistics Distribution
IVSA staff and the volunteer Board of Directors carry on initiatives to enhance the direction of the industry to support its fully member-funded association
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What is the business of IVSA members?
Agents are suppliers of Imported Alcohol. Each agency is responsible to source, purchase, ship, warehouse and market all liquor products entering into Canada from around the world. Each has a significant investment in inventory stored in BC & Alberta.
Our agent members operate as a commissioned manufacturer's agent for off-shore producers. They purchase liquor products from producers and sell at wholesale + costs (operations + foreign currency exchange + shipping + warehouse + distribution) to retail licensees. The products are distributed via BCLDB system, the AGLC system.
Our Warehouse and Logistics members are bonded and licensed to move and to store alcohol. Most are privately owned businesses with the exception of the BCLDB Wholesale Distribution Operations.
Our Consular members are Trade Commissions who promote production and supply of the Alcohol industry from their country of origin.
Our Trade Association members represent an array of affiliated industries including marketing, sales tracking, promotions, retailers, licensee operators, event planners, and hospitality professionals.
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National and International Exposure
A large percentage of our membership have operations and employees in other provincial jurisdictions (in addition to BC & Alberta), and therefore have experience working with other provincial liquor boards. As importers, our membership is well versed in the international liquor trade and fully understands the global supply chains when it comes to alcohol beverages.
Members businesses account for 100s of direct industry jobs - within sole proprietorships up to multinational companies. This inturn provides 1,000s of indirect jobs throughout the provinces, while providing a major source of provincial tax revenues.
Size + Scale in Alberta (October 2023)
Total Liquor SKUs: 36,890 (Beer 7,700; Wine 22,000; Spirits 8,190)
Registered Agents: 827
Total Licensees (bars, restaurants, clubs, liquor stores): 10,888
Total Retail Liquor Stores: 1609
Size + Scale in British Columbia (March 2023)
There were $942 Million in total sales of Imported wine and spirits in BC for the 12 months ending Nov 2023 (Source BCLDB SSDS Data, Dec 2023)
LDB contributed $1.189 Billion to the Provincial Government in 2022/23 (Source: BC LDB 2022/23 Annual Service Plan Report)
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About 75% of total import beverage alcohol category’s sales are represented by IVSA Agents; and IVSA Membership represents about 30% of all BCLDB Sales
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As a member of the Import Vintners and Spirits Association, we acknowledge that our business engages with various groups, including but not limited to:
Other import agencies
Associate Members
General public
Retail and Hospitality Customers
Suppliers
The BC government and its agencies, namely the BC Liquor Distribution Branch, BC Liquor Stores and the BC Liquor Control & Licensing Branch
The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission
Warehouse & Distribution Businesses
As members, we follow the Import Vintners and Spirits Association's code of standards when interacting with these specific groups in our business dealings:
WITH OTHER IMPORT AGENCIES
It is important to avoid using unethical competitive practices. As a member of a trade association, promoting goodwill and cooperation can benefit everyone involved.WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC
Our profession is one of great responsibility to the public, and we believe it to be worthy. We strongly promote the responsible use of alcohol as a guiding principle.WITH OUR CUSTOMERS
Our goal is to provide honest and integral service to our customers and to promote our products based on their merit.WITH SUPPLIERS
Our aim is to ensure that we deal with our suppliers with honesty and integrity in all our transactions.WITH GOVERNMENTS
As a significant economic contributor to the Provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, and Canada, we in the import beverage alcohol industry strive for fair treatment from the government and its agencies. We believe that collaborating with them to develop policies and practices that benefit import agents, suppliers, the government, and consumers alike will be mutually beneficial. -
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IVS kindly thanks the following industry leaders and trailblazers for their time served on the IVSA Board of Directors:
Norman Gladstone, Darryl Weinbren, Art Kendall, Jim Marion, Craig Windrim, Scott Adair, Paul Martin, Mike Longfield, Andrea McLaughlin, Tony Perri, Richard Loewen, Chris Stewart, Chris Perry, Lesley Brown, Mark Kuspira, Vicky Ainley, Ted Latimer and Shauna Hansen.