Faced with the new price increase on 3,400 products at the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ), the former vice-president of finance, Raymond Paré, believes that the crown corporation could do more to offer lower rates to Quebec consumers.
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During his time as a member of senior management, from 2015 to 2017, Mr. Paré notably worked on the three price reductions that had been offered between 2016 and 2017.
The price of the most popular wines sold had then dropped by $ 1.40. The goal was to close the gap with the Liquor Control Board of Ontario.
Mr. Paré, who is also a former treasurer at Couche-Tard, resigned in 2017 “to explore new professional challenges”.
“When I arrived at the SAQ, it was, among other things, to help the team optimize the organization and change the negotiation procedures,” says Mr. Paré. “It was an unrealistic structure in the retailHe continues.
photo-source position-absolute" itemprop="copyrightHolder"> Photo Chantal Poirier
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Raymond Paré was part of the senior management of the SAQ from 2015 to 2017. During this period, three price reductions were offered.
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Today, he believes that management is not taking enough advantage of its purchasing power across the world. The current situation “should result in significant savings” for consumers.
“With its purchasing volume for everyday products, the SAQ absolutely must push its prices down,” he replies, adding that sometimes it is necessary to turn to other producers or countries to obtain better prices. .
Mr. Paré believes that the crown corporation must act more like a private enterprise during negotiations with its partners and not be afraid of criticism from agents, producers and the government.
“The reflex of a merchant is to renegotiate his contracts when market conditions change. If there are surpluses, it is time to negotiate a better price. It’s not always the SAQ’s reflex, ”he says.
The former vice president of finance says the Crown corporation is a “beautiful organization” that, however, needs to continue to optimize its structure. The businessman says he is not in favor of privatization.
Moreover, according to Mr. Paré, who now owns a construction company, it would be possible to cut in the long term another 20% to 25% of the expenses in the administration and through the network of the SAQ.
The site editor vinquebec.com, Marc André Gagnon, is also of the opinion that the surpluses of wines in several European countries, in particular due to the closure of restaurants, should rather plunge prices.
On the side of the SAQ, we are sure to negotiate as closely as possible with suppliers in order to “offer the lowest prices in Canada”.
Management attributes these new variations to the increase in the excise tax, fluctuations in the euro and US dollar exchange rates, and requests for changes from producers.
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