Once a product has been accepted for purchase, it's important to keep sufficient quantities in the supply chain. LCBO has developed the Forecasting-at-a-Glance Template to assist all trade partners to forecast inventory requirements with the LCBO. Its use will also ensure a consistent approach across all LCBO categories with all agents/suppliers.
The template is set up to reflect the annual promotional calendar. Forecasting is at the level of stock keeping unit (SKU).
As an agent/supplier, you are responsible for filling out all sections of this form. If you also sell through The Beer Store, there is a separate grid should you choose to forecast separately for The Beer Store and the LCBO.
You will be required to:
- Complete the "Date Prepared", "Supplier Information", and "SKU Information" sections.
- Complete the "Supplier Sales Forecast" section, either at a total warehouse level, or individual warehouse level.
- Record sales projections in actual cases, not 9-litre equivalents (see Case Calculator Sidebar).
- Fill out "Promotional Activity & Details" for all LCBO approved, in-store promotions for each promotional turn. External promotions (non-LCBO) should also be detailed here.
- Provide promotional uplift for each promotional turn in which the product is being promoted.
- Provide "Actual Sales" by promotional turn, where applicable.
Forecasting-at-a-Glance templates must be returned to the LCBO in a timely manner. For imported SKUs, this must be at least 16 weeks prior to any promotional turn in which there is a promotion (even earlier if the lead-time is extra long, e.g. Australia, New Zealand, etc.). For domestic SKUs, this must be at least eight weeks in advance.
The LCBO will consider the information in its forecasting process, but is not committed to ordering quantities suggested by the agent/supplier. The information will be used to validate our corporate replenishment systems' baseline sales forecasts and to assist with promotional forecasting. The LCBO will notify trade partners in instances where there are substantial variances to LCBO sales projections.