Understanding LTOs and TPRs (BC only)
What is an LTO?
LTO = Limited Time Offer
In British Columbia, LTOs are:
- Published monthly by the BC Liquor Distribution Branch (BCLDB)
- Included in the official monthly wholesale price change file
- Applied at the wholesale level for a defined promotional period
What This Means for Your Store
- The wholesale cost is officially reduced for the LTO window.
- These are structured, government-published promotions.
- You can purchase inventory during the promotional period at the reduced cost.
LTOs are formal and published — they are not estimated or inferred.
What is a TPR?
TPR = Temporary Price Reduction
In BC:
- The BCLDB does NOT publish TPRs
- TPRs are wholesale cost reductions for more than a one-month period.
Because TPRs are not formally distributed in the monthly price file, identifying them requires interpretation.
<o
></o >How Barnet Flags Potential TPRs
Since TPRs are not officially published, Barnet has developed an internal algorithm that attempts to flag possible TPR activity.
The system flags an item when:
- The wholesale cost appears lower than expected
AND - The item appears to be on sale at a Government Liquor Store (GLS)
Important – Use with Caution
This logic is helpful, but it is not foolproof.
There may be:
- Timing differences between price updates
- Data feed inconsistencies
- Short-term retail pricing adjustments
- Corrections made after initial publication
TPR indicators should be treated as guidance, not confirmation.
For large purchases or margin-sensitive decisions, additional review is recommended.
Best Practice: Use the “DIFF” Column When Ordering
When using ReOrder:
-
The DIFF column shows the difference between current wholesale cost and your current system cost (last received cost). When you have the advanced pricelist (the week before the period change), the Diff column is the difference between your current system cost and next period cost.
-
This allows you to identify:
- Items increasing next month
- Items decreasing next month
-
Why This Matters
If an item is increasing in cost next month, purchasing additional inventory at the current lower cost can protect your margin.
This is commonly referred to as a bridge buy.
Using the DIFF column strategically allows you to:
- Plan ahead for cost increases
- Protect gross margin
- Make proactive purchasing decisions
Disclaimer – Data Source & Responsibility
Barnet purchases the official BCLDB wholesale price list in order to provide pricing updates and LTO visibility within the system.
However:
- The BCLDB price list is subject to change at any time.
- Corrections or updates may be made after initial publication.
- TPRs are not formally published by BCLDB.
For this reason:
All LTO, TPR indicators, and price change information should be used with professional judgment and reviewed carefully before making significant purchasing decisions.
Barnet provides tools to assist your workflow — but final purchasing responsibility remains with the store.
