NB Liquor sales and earnings up despite growler setback
Preliminary unaudited financial results released, along with board expenses
NB Liquor's total sales for the year ending March 29, 2015 were $393.9 million, up $9.5 million from the previous year, according to preliminary unaudited financial results released on Tuesday.
This, despite the Crown corporation's disappointing foray into selling growlers.
NB Liquor also released the expenses of its board members and the president and CEO, which totalled nearly $96,000.
Wine sales accounted for much of the growth, jumping 6.5 per cent — an increase of $5.1 million, president and CEO Brian Harriman said in a statement.
"Continued interest and successful promotions contributed to strong growth in the wine category," Harriman said.
Growler sales flat
"Weather-driven demand was high in the second quarter, driving the beer category and positively impacting the 'other beverages' category," he said.
Beer sales increased 0.6 per cent, ($1.2 million), while 'other beverages' jumped 9.1 per cent ($1.7 million) at the Crown corporation's 44 retail outlets and 84 private agency store outlets.
The statement does not mention craft beer specifically, but NB Liquor purchased 40,000 growlers last year as it prepared to become the first liquor agency in Canada to allow customers to buy craft beer in the refillable beer jugs in September.
It spent $124,210 on the bottles, but flat sales left tens of thousands of them sitting on shelves, as of December.
Spirit sales improved during the past year, however, increasing by 1.6 per cent ($1.5 million), Harriman said.
Board expenses
| Board member | Expenses |
| President and CEO Brian Harriman | $24,800.62 |
| Chairman Ron Lindala | $31,122.97 |
| Arthur Doyle | $5,976.08 |
| Rémi Roussel | $7,769.77 |
| John Correia | $6,916.63 |
| Patrick Durepos | $6,394.46 |
| Rachelle Gagnon | $6,420.87 |
| Mike Jenkins | $6,493.49 |
| Total | $95,894.83 |
Harriman, who has been at the helm of the NB Liquor since early 2014 — a position that pays between $150,000 and $175,000 a year — is the first president and CEO of the Crown corporation to be hired in a non-political process.
He filed $24,800.62 for expenses for the fiscal year, including travel and meals, both in- and out-of-province, as well as attendance fees.
Chairman Ron Lindala, who is also paid an annual salary, had the highest expenses among the board members at $31,122.97.
The others ranged from just under $6,000 to to nearly $7,800.
Directors are paid a quarterly salary.