Packaging supply stable, but uneasy While June ushered in a more stable rhythm after May’s tariff-driven frenzy, underlying uncertainty continues to shape planning, procurement, and pricing across the packaging and logistics landscape. Supply remains steady across most categories, but stability doesn’t mean simplicity. US glass manufacturers, in particular, are contending with a mismatch between output and demand. Inventories have piled up amid sluggish ordering, especially from wine producers still reeling from compressed consumer spending and slowing DTC velocity. With tanks and warehouses more full than empty, some domestic furnaces are now eyeing Q3/Q4 production pauses as a measure to rebalance. After a brief reprieve in May, diesel prices rose again in June, increasing from $3.499 to $3.599 per gallon, a continued reflection of the volatile energy market. According to the latest Deloitte economic outlook, while core inflation is showing signs of moderation, ener

Faced with the current industry-wide purchasing downturn, wineries are exploring new avenues for growth and economic security. Many are enhancing their marketing with a focus on meeting the sustainability and transparency preferences of younger generations. These consumers are not only concerned with a winery’s approach to agriculture and winemaking but also with the sustainability of the bottles and the packaging. “Wineries tell us they’re seeing this trend as more consumers buy sustainable wines,” says Mark Pitifer, Marketing & Communications Administrator at Waterloo Container. “Wineries also say they want to help keep the glass out of landfills. It’s a feel-good moment for the purchaser to buy wine from winemakers and an industry that is investing in eco options and sustainable choices.” Meeting this consumer demand means using recyclable, lightweight bottles and closures with a reduced carbon footprint. Waterloo Container offers a

The Saxco family hopes you had a fantastic holiday filled with laughter, excellent food, and wine that continues through the end of the year. May Santa Claus bring you everything on your list and more. The whole industry is tentatively hopeful for solid holiday sales, yet there is a shadow of concern due to the potential imposition of tariffs in 2025. This looming threat could affect imported wines and essential materials such as bottles and boxes and possibly prompt retaliatory tariffs. For wine packaging, the threat of 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada, as well as the potential 10% China tariff increase, could result in substantial increases in goods costs and demand for US glass manufacturing. We are already seeing an increase in the tightening of demand for domestic glass, increasing its lead time. We recommend you speak with your partners and know where they source your packaging goods in anticipation for any future changes in duties. While most things are stable, gas prices have

With a challenging harvest, ongoing industry headwinds, and the recent resolution of the US election, the world is still adjusting to what has become a continuously evolving “new normal” since COVID-19. The supply chain now braces for potential uncertainties surrounding a new administration.  Concerns about rising fuel expenses are becoming more pronounced, with diesel prices experiencing a modest increase of approximately three cents on average across the US, as reported by the EIA. This uptick is causing anxiety among businesses that rely heavily on transportation to maintain their supply chains. On a more positive note, there is significant relief in international shipping. The cost of ocean freight from Asia to the US has seen a remarkable decline, with container shipping fees plummeting by $1,000 to $2,000. The International Longshoremen’s Association recently conducted a brief but impactful three-day strike at ports along the East and Gulf Coasts. This wor

April 20, 2023 8:00AM – 9:00AM Registration and Networking 9:00-11:00 Wine Conference Location: Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country KEYNOTE: Rick Tigner, President and CEO, Jackson Family Wines Cultivating Diversity and a Culture of Belonging-Successful approaches to cultivating a culture of belonging among employees and the greater wine industry Introduction: Lorez Bailey, Publisher North Bay Business Journal PANEL Understanding the motivation of the younger wine consumer. Addressing the looming demand problem Andrea Smalling, Wine Direct Ed Feuchuk-Tank, Garage Winery Moderator: William Vyenielo, Senior Business Consultant, Moss Adams PANEL How has the pandemic changed DTC? Post Pandemic, what is your go to market strategy? Alex Jones, Gary Farrell Winery Remi Cohen, Domain Carneros Cathy Huyghe, Enolytics Moderator: Richard Van Duzer, Partner, Farella Braun + Martel Register here.

Join the North Bay Business Journal for our 23rd Annual Wine Industry Conference April 20, 20238:00AM – 9:00AM Registration and Networking9:00-11:00 Wine Conference Location: Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country KEYNOTE: Rick Tigner, President and CEO, Jackson Family Wines Cultivating Diversity and a Culture of Belonging-Successful approaches to cultivating a culture of belonging among employees and the greater wine industry Introduction: Lorez Bailey, Publisher North Bay Business Journal PANEL Understanding the motivation of the younger wine consumer. Addressing the looming demand problem Andrea Smalling, Wine Direct Ed Feuchuk-Tank, Garage Winery Moderator: William Vyenielo, Senior Business Consultant, Moss Adams PANEL How has the pandemic changed DTC? Post Pandemic, what is your go to market strategy? Alex Jones, Gary Farrell Winery Remi Cohen, Domain Carneros Cathy Huyghe, Enolytics Moderator: Richard Van Duzer, Partner, Farella Braun + Martel Register here.

Easter is fast approaching; that fluffy bunny will be here before you know it. It's time to help your customers find the perfect wine for their Easter table. Set up your web store to promote your Easter sippers, gift baskets, and merchandise. Organize your website with Easter product tags. Give your customers a great shopping experience by assigning product tags to your wine and gift recommendations for Easter. Use product tags to create Shop page filters, making it easier for your customers to find recommended wines or gifts, such as ‘Easter Sippers’ or ‘Bunny-approved gift baskets’. Learn more about the flexibility of using product tags on VinesOS.  Enable easy access to your web shop and a frictionless check-out. Remember, forced login is one of the top reasons customers abandon a shopping cart. Make sure you don't require your customers to log in to make their purchases.  Offer customers a modern, streamlined, and straightforward pro

Raise your hand if your winery enjoyed a spike in wine club acquisition in 2021. We have heard (and seen the metrics) that many wineries were able to not only keep their club members through 2020, but also saw an increase in acquisitions in 2021 with the increased traffic. Fantastic! Too bad we can’t sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labors. Now that we have your attention, it is time to consider the normal tail of attrition that follows – usually 18 to 36 months after the initial join. That means there will be several cancellations happening sometime in the next several months. Now, raise your hand if visitor counts are slowing from last year. We know all wine regions saw an overall decrease in traffic in 2022. Most likely, the actual number of new member signups is also slowing. Simple algebra will tell us if the number of new members joining is slowing, and the natural attrition spike is looming, we may have storm clouds on the horizon. The good news is that we can g

The bulk market globally can be characterised as slow, even for what is a traditionally slow time of year when the Northern Hemisphere summer holidays are is in full swing. As well as there being few buyers, some already-acquired wine is being put back on the market by those who no longer need it; these wines are sometimes picked up quickly by an alternative buyer, sometimes not. The reappearance of inventory is potentially symptomatic of a range of factors – problematic shipping; dry goods such as bottles being in short supply and/or high in price; a real or projected slowdown in consumer sales as annual inflation rates remain high.  The inflation rate in the US fell in July, from 9.1% to 8.5%, as a decline in fuel prices offset a continued rise in grocery prices. Hopefully this a sign of inflation starting to cool, but in many other markets fuel prices and energy bills are projected to continue rising for the rest of the year. In the UK, the Bank of England expects inflati