The decline in alcohol consumption and the reduction in sales are visibly shaking the network of branches of the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ). In addition to the upcoming closure of three stores, opening hours will be reduced in several locations.
Published yesterday at 6:22 p.m.
The management of the state-owned company met with representatives of the SAQ Store and Office Employees Union (SEMB-SAQ–CSN) on Tuesday morning to inform them of the recent decisions. The branches in Chicoutimi (downtown), Rivière-Bleue and Brossard (Marché Village) will permanently close their doors in the spring.
Then, the hours of 251 stores will be reviewed. Some will welcome customers later, others will close up shop earlier. Then three branches will have a break on Sunday or Monday. Currently, the SAQ has 409 stores. In the wake of these changes, 30 positions will be abolished, denounces the union. However, the SAQ defends itself by asserting that half of them were vacant and that the other 15 will be reassigned. There will be no job loss, we assured.
For several quarters, the SAQ has been facing a drop in volume sales, in particular due to a reduction in consumption. “We re-evaluate every year, but of course we look at the trend we have. The trend we have is decreasing volumes and sales,” recognized Isabelle Dufour, vice-president, sales network operations, of the SAQ, during a telephone interview with The Press.
There is a trend [qui montre] that our customers take a look [plus] their alcohol consumption. Clearly.
Isabelle Dufour, vice-president, sales network operations, SAQ
“Every year, when we plan the next fiscal year, we do annual planning and this is the time when we question whether we have the right branches in the right places, [si] we have the right number of employees [et si on] has good opening hours, she adds. We did that again this year.
-“At the end of this reflection and in line with our budgetary objectives, we identified three branches which are currently underperforming for all kinds of reasons and whose leases expire this year. »
She also took the opportunity to highlight the opening of a new branch in Sherbrooke.
Regarding changes to opening hours, Mme Dufour affirms that the decisions were made following the analysis of traffic curves. Is there a trend? Are consumers shopping for their bottle of wine at 5 p.m., rather than 9 p.m.? “It varies depending on the region,” she replies.
Faced with these decisions, the union did not hide its disappointment. “We are particularly disappointed by the SAQ’s decision to want to close a branch as vital as the one in downtown Chicoutimi, while voices are being raised in Quebec for the state corporation to play its role in revitalizing the centers. -cities and local shops. Especially since sales have been increasing in recent years,” underlined the president of the union, Lisa Courtemanche, in a press release.
“We expected things to be announced, but for us, it’s never good news,” she added on the phone.
The 5,000 union members signed a new collective agreement at the end of last year, after more than 21 months of negotiations. During this period, employees went on strike for five days, including two in October and one in November, just before the Christmas period.
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