Liquor Control Board Statement on State Liquor Warehousing and Distribution Request for Proposals

Nov. 2, 2011

OLYMPIA – The decision today to not accept either proposal for leasing and operating the state’s system of warehousing and distributing liquor validates the efficiency of our existing distribution operations.

Washington citizens benefit from their investment in highly efficient warehouse and distribution operations. The Liquor Control Board uses private-sector practices and performance measures to continually improve these operations. In fact, over 60 percent of our distribution costs are contracted out to the private sector, such as the use of private carriers to deliver to state, contract, and tribal stores statewide.

As we build up store inventory for the holiday season, our distribution center employees and private distributors will ship more than 22,000 cases per day on average. This planned buildup enables our stores to maintain the 99 percent in-stock rate of the approximately 1,400 products that customers enjoy today.

We are fortunate to have the leadership and private-sector experience that Director of Distribution Bill Berni brings to operations at the distribution center. Bill uses his 30 years of private-sector distribution and warehouse experience to maximize the efficiency of operations for the benefit of all Washington citizens.

The Liquor Control Board includes Board Chair Sharon Foster and Board Members Ruthann Kurose and Chris Marr.

More Information
Additional information regarding today’s announcement is available on the Office of Financial Management website at www.ofm.wa.gov/rfp/default.asp.