OCSA CEO Dave Bryans Retires
The Ontario Convenience Stores Association (OCSA) recently announced that Dave Bryans is stepping down as chief executive officer. Bryans has decided to retire from his position with OCSA but will continue to assist the association on specific files in a consultant capacity.
“As I embrace this new phase of life, I am eager to slow down and savour the joys of personal pursuits,” says Bryans. “To continue to work on specific c-store files, I am opening cstoreconsulting.ca, which should launch in early 2024.”
The Ontario government recently announced that sales of beer, wine, cider and ready-to-drink cocktails will be allowed in convenience stores in the province by 2026. As Bryans has been diligently working on this achievement for years, this is one of the files that he will continue to assist the OCSA with in his retirement.
“I plan to assist the OCSA board throughout 2024 on the newly announced beverage alcohol file to ensure we clarify the final details for the thousands of family-run stores in Ontario,” says Bryans. “I am proud of forging new collaborative relationships with governments where we were invited to the table to discuss policy including the discussions for beer and wine modernization in Ontario. As we approach beer being available in c-stores, I can’t help but think how our efforts started some 15 years ago with the Free Our Beer campaign when we received 400,000 c-store customer signatures on a petition.”
After 20 years representing the interests of the convenience store channel with OCSA, Bryans says he is especially proud of passionately defending the rights of family businesses.
“As a young child, I worked in my family convenience store,” he says. “I climbed the career ladder of JTI Tobacco, retiring after 31 years when I took on the challenge of rebuilding the Ontario Convenience Store Association and the creation of the Canadian Convenience Stores Association. Collectively, I have spent 51 years working in the convenience industry.”
Bryans notes that convenience stores have always been his passion.
“It has been a privilege to be a part of this incredible industry,” says Bryans. “From navigating the intricacies of government relations to shaping strategic visions, developing brand concepts, exploring new categories, and representing thousands of locations across Ontario, this journey has been immensely rewarding.”
Kenny Shim, known for his role as chief operating officer of the Ontario Korean Businessmen’s Association, has been named OCSA’s new CEO.
“I am passing the torch of CEO to the passionate and capable hands of Kenny Shim, a well-known advocate for family independent convenience stores in Ontario,” says Bryans. “I leave the convenience store channel in the capable hands of my successors and eagerly anticipate staying close for many ongoing projects.”
