Waterloo Container is nearing completion on a new building. The facility houses inbound and outbound sales for the company as well as a new training space. Training will be provided to Waterloo customers through the facility. The company wants the wine community to know how imperative these trainings and education within their industry can be.

To start, Waterloo plans on bringing in specialists who can train customers in everything from enclosures to glass to labeling and packaging. With nearly 4500 customers relying on Waterloo Container, the company has long been interested in investing in the development of the industry. Part of their new building is a large conference room for trainings. The room will be equipped with the latest technology including flat screen TVs to aid in presentations.

Congressman Tom Reed recently visited Waterloo Container to tour the new facility. While on his tour, the Congressman saw the company’s Seneca County warehouses, which cover about 250,000 square feet and house the many supplies that are the lifeblood of the New York State wine industry.

“There is so much more to the wine industry than sitting on your deck with a glass of Riesling in hand,” says Togo DeBellis, executive vice president of sales and marketing at Waterloo Container. “We wanted to invite the Congressman to see the inner workings of Waterloo Container, and experience all of the steps we take behind the scenes.”

The wine industry is one of largest tourism draws that New York State has to offer. With more than 100 wineries, the Finger Lakes wine region alone is the largest wine producing region in the country – east of California. Adding that to wine produced throughout the state, it is easy to see how tourism dollars are dependent on the visitors this industry brings in. According to the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, “The New York grape, grape juice and wine industry generates more than $4.8 billion in economic benefits annually for New York State. 1,631 family vineyards... 373 wineries... 175,000,000 bottles of wine... $408 million in state and local taxes…”  Our economy thrives from the several thousand people who are employed because of wine production.

In its 34^th year of serving the wine community, Waterloo Container is owned by Bill and Annette Lutz, who started the company in 1980. It remains one of the only family-owned and operated suppliers of the wine industry left in business. It is this history and deep ties to the local wine region that inspires the Lutzes and Waterloo Container to keep on giving back.

Waterloo Container’s support of the wine industry in New York State is plentiful, as they continue to show year after year. This year, the container company worked toward opening the training facility to support the local wine industry in educational trainings, industry development, and events that continue to showcase the New York State wine industry and the Finger Lakes Wine Region.

Wine education has always been a top priority for Waterloo Container. Over the years, they have invested in local symposiums, wine festivals, and programs that encourage the development of the region and help produce new products and varietals of wines. For example, Waterloo Container is a primary supporter of the “Wine Symposium of the Finger Lakes,” and the Winestock NY event – both held in Geneva, N.Y. each year. In 2013, the company gave a significant contribution to a grassroots program called NY Wine Spotting that aims to boost the number of New York wines on area restaurant lists. They also work alongside Cornell and its Cooperative Extension Program, investing in the college’s experimental station. This aids in the development of new grape vines, giving area winemakers new and fresh flavors to work with.

The training facility will help the wine industry grow by educating area wine producers about all of the elements that go into putting a bottle of wine on the shelf.