Usually, a full warehouse means good news for a business - not in this case.
Hundreds of empty beer kegs sit inside Direct Tap's Fraser Street facility in Vancouver; it's yet another sign of the COVID effect on the local hospitality industry.
The company provides alcohol storage and delivery services for partner facilities in the province, essentially offering better logistical support to craft liquor manufacturers.
President Mike Macquisten says they usually see about one-tenth the number of kegs temporarily housed in the building.
"We have over 80,000 empty kegs in this building waiting to be filled. 50 percent of our business is in kegs and that's down almost 80 percent from what it once was," explains Macquisten.
As bar and restaurant sales continue to slump in B.C., it's making for one crowded depot and a lot of thirsty businesses.
Macquisten adds, "As patios open up, as things loosen up a little bit, these kegs are going to start to flow and we're excited to get them back in the hands of the breweries that they're owned by."
The BC Restaurant and Food Services Association estimates the province's food and beverage industry has lost almost $3.5 billion during the pandemic.
