J.J. Buckley to be acquired by SAQ/Twist?

WINE TALK
1

Not sure if anyone caught this thread: http://forums.winespectator.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6826053161/m/5177066322

My French isn’t proficient enough to quite grock all the details: http://lapresseaffaires.cyberpresse.ca/economie/commerce-de-detail/201104/03/01-4386115-la-saq-prend-pied-aux-etats-unis.php
But here is Google’s mangling: http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=fr&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Flapresseaffaires.cyberpresse.ca%2Feconomie%2Fcommerce-de-detail%2F201104%2F03%2F01-4386115-la-saq-prend-pied-aux-etats-unis.php&act=url

And another earlier article with a little bit of background on the players: http://can-restaurantnews.com/content/publish/pacific/SAQ_looking_for_wine_customers_across_Canada.shtml

Very interesting.

2

Far worse than the US Government getting involved with the wine trade would be if the Canadian government got involved with our wine trade…

I really hope nothing changes at JJ Buckley. They had some customer service issues when I first started dealing with them, but they dealt with it well and I’ve been happy ever since. Between them and K&L, I’m all set.

3

Yeah, I agree. They have been really terrific and have purchased a fair amount of wine from them in the last few months (at least 10 cases). I deal with Alex and the service has been top notch.

4

Oh good god. I expect they will destroy what is a very good operation. I can’t see how a provincial monopoly can justify such such an investment.

5

Can a US company buy a Canadian retailer ?

6

The SAQ is an excellent wine retailer. Their customer service, selection, website has always been top notch. The only issue I have ever had with them are their prices, but that is a function of the taxation laws in Quebec, not the policies of the SAQ. They also have immense buying power. This move would be a milestone in the industry.

7

Errol…I was kind of shy to post about this as I live in Montreal, Quebec Province, Canada since 1967.

I totally agree with your view that SAQ is an excellent wine retailer; their customer service and selection are first-rate specially so when we are talking about with a monopoly such as a Governemtn Agency. I was told that SAQ maybe within the first top 5 global buyers.

Many years ago, I complained to their then buyer ( who is now retired ) about the lack of selections for small Burgundy…and they listoned.

SAQ has a customer service phone number, the persons who work there are first rate and very customer services oriented. Everytime I called I got excellent service.

Regarding the white Brug pre-oxi problem, SAQ changed their policy recently and they will now consider any request for refund ( in a credit note ).