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Distilleries in Canada - Market Research Report (2013-2028)

Shawn McGrath Shawn McGrath New York, United States Last Updated: November 2023 NAICS 31214CA

Revenue

$2.1bn

2023

$2.1bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

3,610

Businesses

370

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Distilleries in Canada industry analysis

Canadian distilleries have had a strong performance in recent years, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Government intervention through the control of liquor retail sales and high excise taxes have aided in slowing growth and have been an impediment to expansion. Despite this, solid growth in demand for Canadian products in the United States and a boom in craft spirits consumption have mitigated this decline, as did increased alcohol consumption amid the coronavirus pandemic. Revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.3% to $2.1 billion over the five years to 2023, including a forecast increase of 1.4% in 2023 alone as consumption of alcohol continues its long-term decline.

Trends and Insights

  • The COVID-19 pandemic boosted revenue in 2020, carrying a period with mostly lacklustre growth. Many Canadains increased alcohol consumption in the face of stay-at-home orders and the closure of many businesses.
  • Liqueurs are growing as a share of revenue for distilleries. They are often used in cocktails, which are growing in popularity.
  • Alberta has become a hub for distilleries in recent years. The craft distillery boom has influenced producers to locate close to the other parts of the supply chain.
  • The growing number of craft distilleries has limited concentration. Existing distilleries have struggled to maintain their market share with the high number of new entrants.
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Everything you need in one report

  • Reliable market estimates from 2013-2028
  • Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
  • Powerful SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces and risk management frameworks
  • Online membership platform with PDF, Word, Excel and PPT exports

Industry Overview

Market size and recent performance (2013-2028)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 5.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $2.1bn in 2023.

Trends and Insights

Distilleries rolled on despite COVID-19

  • The COVID-19 pandemic was tough on many industries throughout the economy, tanking consumer spending and sending ripples of uncertainty through the economy. Canadian distilleries kept on going as usual and posted double-digit growth in 2020.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Distilleries in Canada
Revenue (2013-2028)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Increased regulation remains a threat

  • Alcohol sales are highly regulated in Canada. Excise taxes are high and in most provinces, alcohol can only be retailed at government-owned stores. While distilleries in some provinces can sell directly to the consumer, this isn't the case nationwide.

Biggest companies in the Distilleries in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2023
Revenue ($m)
2023
Profit ($m)
2023
Profit Margin (%)
2023
Diageo PLC
85.7
35.8
41.8
Corby Spirit and Wine Limited
58.5
13.6
23.2
Beam Suntory Inc.
21.5
2.0
9.3

To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Distilleries in Canada
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Vodka, Whisky and Rum. Vodka is the largest segment of the Distilleries in Canada.

Trends and Insights

Whisky is the most popular spirit in Canada

  • Nearly one-third of revenue generated by Canadian distilleries comes from whisky, which is made from mashed corn, rye and other grains. This is the only spirit in Canada that's protected by appellation laws. Canadian whisky must be distilled and aged in Canada for a minimum of three years with a 40.0% alcohol content.
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Competitors

  • Breweries in Canada

Complementors

  • Coffee & Tea Production in Canada
  • Soda Production in Canada
  • Juice Production in Canada

International industries

  • Global Spirits Manufacturing
  • Distilleries in the US
  • Vodka Distilleries in the US
  • Whiskey & Bourbon Distilleries in the US
  • RTD Mixed Spirit Production in the US

View all industries in Canada

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry consists of distilleries that purchase ingredients, such as grain, corn, rice, potatoes and sugar, and manufacture them into alcoholic spirits. These beverages are then bottled and sold to liquor distributors, licensed retailers and drinking establishments.

What's included in this industry?

Distilling liquorsBlending liquorsBottling liquors

Companies

Diageo PLCCorby Spirit and Wine LimitedBeam Suntory Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

PREMIUMIZATION STILLREADY-TO-DRINK (RTD)DISTILLATION

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 312140 - Distilleries in Canada

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The COVID-19 pandemic boosted revenue in 2020, carrying a period with mostly lacklustre growth. Many Canadains increased alcohol consumption in the face of stay-at-home order...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Employees, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Businesses, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Profit, including historical (2013-2023)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Liqueurs are growing as a share of revenue for distilleries. They are often used in cocktails, which are growing in popularity.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2023
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2023
  • Major market segmentation in 2023
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Alberta has become a hub for distilleries in recent years. The craft distillery boom has influenced producers to locate close to the other parts of the supply chain.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2023

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2023
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2023
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2023
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2023

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The growing number of craft distilleries has limited concentration. Existing distilleries have struggled to maintain their market share with the high number of new entrants.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2018-2023
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Even the largest distilleries in Canada don't have significant market share. Craft distilleries and imports have siphoned demand from domestic production.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2019 through 2023
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2023
  • Overview of Diageo PLC's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
  • Overview of Corby Spirit and Wine Limited's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
  • Overview of Beam Suntory Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Diageo PLC, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Corby Spirit and Wine Limited, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Beam Suntory Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Capital intensity is shrinking as small-scale distilleries enter the market. These companies often have mostly manual processes because of their size.

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2013-2028) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2013-2028) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Profit has expanded in recent years for Canadian distilleries. They have successfully passed on input costs to consumers and encouraged purchases of higher-quality, higher-ma...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2023
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2023
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2016-2021)
  • Coverage Ratios (2016-2021)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2016-2021)
  • Operating Ratios (2016-2021)
  • Assets (2016-2021)
  • Liabilities (2016-2021)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2013-2028)
  • Revenue per Employee (2013-2028)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • Employees per Establishment (2013-2028)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • Average Wage (2013-2028)
  • Wages/Revenue (2013-2028)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • IVA/Revenue (2013-2028)
  • Imports/Demand (2013-2028)
  • Exports/Revenue (2013-2028)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2013-2028)
  • IVA (2013-2028)
  • Establishments (2013-2028)
  • Enterprises (2013-2028)
  • Employment (2013-2028)
  • Exports (2013-2028)
  • Imports (2013-2028)
  • Wages (2013-2028)

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Canada include:

  • Statistics Canada
  • Industry Canada
  • Canadian Business Patterns

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.

Frequently Asked Questions

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Distilleries industry in Canada in 2024?

The market size of the Distilleries industry in Canada is $2.1bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Distilleries in Canada industry in 2023?

There are 370 businesses in the Distilleries industry in Canada, which has grown at a CAGR of 14.6 % between 2018 and 2023.

Has the Distilleries industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Distilleries industry in Canada has been growing at a CAGR of 5.3 % between 2018 and 2023.

What is the forecast growth of the Distilleries industry in Canada over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Distilleries industry in Canada is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Distilleries market in Canada?

The biggest companies operating in the Distilleries market in Canada are Diageo PLC, Corby Spirit and Wine Limited and Beam Suntory Inc.

What does the Distilleries in Canada include?

Distilling liquors and Blending liquors are part of the Distilleries industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Distilleries in Canada?

The company holding the most market share in Canada is Diageo PLC.

How competitive is the Distilleries industry in Canada?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Distilleries industry in Canada.