They had lots of excess capacity in the late 80's . Sales were down.
Along comes Dave Nichols (the originator of the President's Choice line of Loblaw products). Cuts a deal with Cott to supply the Presidents Choice line of soft drinks and the result:
"Since implementing its premium private label strategy for soft drinks in 1991, "Cott sales have exploded, rising from 67 million Canadian dollars in fiscal 1991 to an estimated C$1.1 billion this year," according to William Leach, an analyst and vice president with Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette.(1994)
(I have a distant family member that set up a Cott plant in Ireland,circa 1991)
When Nichols was at Loblaws, it's market capital went from 40 Million to $14 BILLION in 1993, when he left (Not sure why, but one urban legend says Galen Weston (Sr. or Jr?) was jealous of Dave being 'President' and the face of Loblaws.)).
Funny ... Dave went off to Cott after leaving Loblaws.
I remember the big Cott/Allan warehouse or perhaps factory at Chomedey and St-Martin Boulevard in Laval. Over 10 years ago a Loblaws went up there, so this kinda adds up.
Captain Caper
Quick note on Cott.
They had lots of excess capacity in the late 80's . Sales were down.
Along comes Dave Nichols (the originator of the President's Choice line of Loblaw products). Cuts a deal with Cott to supply the Presidents Choice line of soft drinks and the result:
"Since implementing its premium private label strategy for soft drinks in 1991, "Cott sales have exploded, rising from 67 million Canadian dollars in fiscal 1991 to an estimated C$1.1 billion this year," according to William Leach, an analyst and vice president with Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette.(1994)
(I have a distant family member that set up a Cott plant in Ireland,circa 1991)
When Nichols was at Loblaws, it's market capital went from 40 Million to $14 BILLION in 1993, when he left (Not sure why, but one urban legend says Galen Weston (Sr. or Jr?) was jealous of Dave being 'President' and the face of Loblaws.)).
Funny ... Dave went off to Cott after leaving Loblaws.