TORONTO — Premier Doug Ford is intensifying his fight against Diageo’s decision to shutter its whisky bottling plant in Amherstburg, Southwestern Ontario. The Premier has announced that if the multinational beverage company proceeds with the closure, he will pull Crown Royal and other Diageo brands from LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario) shelves.
Diageo, the owner of prominent brands including Johnnie Walker, Guinness, and Smirnoff, decided to close the nearly century-old plant as part of an effort to simplify its North American supply chain. The closure, first announced earlier this year, is expected to result in the loss of approximately 200 jobs.
Premier Ford delivered a stern warning, stating that Crown Royal products would be removed from the LCBO the moment the last employee exits the facility. He added that Smirnoff would be the next brand targeted for removal following Crown Royal.
In response, Diageo has affirmed its commitment to Canadian operations. The company stated it would continue to produce Crown Royal in Canada and plans to maintain its Canadian headquarters and warehouse operations in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), alongside its existing bottling and distillation plants in Manitoba and Quebec.
Despite Diageo’s assurances regarding its broader Canadian footprint, Premier Ford’s threat to delist their products escalates the pressure on the global giant, framing the dispute as a direct battle to protect local manufacturing jobs in Ontario.
