Ford Threatens to Pull Crown Royal from LCBO if Diageo Moves Forward with Plant Closure

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is escalating his fight with spirits giant Diageo after the company announced plans to shutter its Amherstburg bottling plant by February 2026—a move that could lead to the loss of as many as 180 jobs. Reuters+1

At a recent press event, Ford delivered a blunt warning: if Diageo goes through with the closure, he’ll instruct the LCBO to “pull Crown Royal off our shelves.” Global News+2Yahoo News+2 He even dramatized the threat by pouring out a bottle of Crown Royal in protest. Reuters+2The Guardian+2

Ford argues that, as the LCBO is one of Diageo’s largest clients in North America—and spends over CAD $740 million annually on Diageo products—the provincial government has leverage. Yahoo News+4Reuters+4Reuters+4 He’s framed the move as a defense of Ontario workers and a stand against “outsourcing” of manufacturing from the province. Reuters+2Global News+2

Diageo, for its part, says the decision is part of optimizing its North American supply chain. The company plans to shift bottling operations to its facility in Valleyfield, Quebec, while maintaining mashing, distilling, and aging in Canada. Reuters+2The Guardian+2 The company has emphasized that the closure is not trade-related but rather a cost and supply chain decision. Reuters+1