According to the company, the latest changes to its ownership comes as the business continues to grow its support for smaller brewers in the province of Ontario.

The new directors, of which there are now 25, were appointed to the Beer Store Board of Directors at its recent shareholders Annual General Meeting (AGM) meeting.

The new directors are Kristine Freudenthaler of Toronto, a logistics and supply chain expert and formerly Senior Vice President of Technology at Canadian Tire.

Robert Aziz of Oakville, a lawyer and the Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Oxford Properties. Tom Muir of Toronto, is a finance expert and the former Chief Financial Officer of Maple Leaf Foods. Tim Penner of Toronto , a marketing executive and former President of Proctor and Gamble Canada.

Elsewhere, two more directors, Greg Newbrough of Sleeman Breweries and George Croft of Brick Brewery, were elected to the Board at the AGM.

This, the company said, was to represent larger Ontario-based brewer-owners of the Beer Store with annual sales greater than 50,000 hectolitres per year.

Frank Heaps from Steam Whistle Brewing was elected to the Board of Directors as the representative of Ontario-based brewer-owners of the Beer Store with annual sales of less than 50,000 hectolitres per year.

Charlie Angelakos, chair of the board of directors of the Beer Store, explained: “We are delighted to welcome these new Directors as we implement our new open ownership model.

“This change to our governance builds on our support for small brewers with increased free listings near their breweries and reduced fees at other locations.”