Start-up cidery in Ontario - Some questions!

[Kaitlyn Brady]

Hi,

I am putting together our business plan for a new start-up cidery, hopefully opening next year.  We will be based in Ontario and I have some specific questions, maybe some other ciderists can help with?

1. Logistics: Apparently there are regulations which prevent beer and cider being transported in the same vehicle.  Does anyone know of any logistics solutions for Ontario cider?  I have contacted premium brand several times and they have not gotten back to me.
2. When shipping to the LCBO, who is responsible for transportation? The ciderists or the LCBO?
3. I see some Ontario cideries have an online store on their website.  This is a great idea.  What is the legality/logistics strategy around an online store for coder?
4. How much do Ontario cideries produce in a year?  I'd love to be able to get a baseline with regards to our first year.  Is 10,000l too ambitious for a 2 person operation?

Any insight would be amazing.  I feel like if we were starting a microbrewery, we'd have  clearer path and lots more information, but I have to rely on other Ontario ciderists for help!

[Aaron Wise]

I've looked into starting a cidery in Ontario.  Because you're working with fruit juice, you are technically a winery in the eyes of the law.  And if you own a winery license you can't own a brewery license - that's why you can't transport both in the same vehicle.  The AGCO website has all the legal info. 

I'd look up the Ontario Cider Producers Association (I think that's the name) and they can probably give you some advice. 

As for the LCBO - that's probably a few years down the road.  They usually only deal with well established businesses that have a few years under their belt with consistent quality. 

What part of the province are you looking at starting in? 

[Kaitlyn Brady]

The land itself and the soil quality will probably dictate where we locate.  It's difficult to estimate land cost as we are in a housing bubble right now, but either Prince Edward county or Meaford area seems like at this point. Though we'll have to see what effects the Heinz factory closure has on land value in Leamington.  That could be a possibility as well.