Innovative upgrades at major Fermentis production plant deliver significantly improved beer yeast quality and packaging flexibility. Fermentis, a world-leading manufacturer of active dry yeast for beverages, has recently completed significant upgrades to its production facilities and packaging lines at Algist Bruggeman, one of its major production plants in Ghent, Belgium. The developments were designed and built to meet strict quality, traceability and logistical requirements with the goal of improving the microbiological quality of yeast and better servicing Fermentis customers around the world. Key components of the project include: Existing yeast production workshop upgrades. New state-of-the-art machinery and dry yeast transport and cleaning equipment. Fully cleanable production lines in both humid and dry conditions, to reduce possible cross contamination. Additional quality control checks to eliminate any leaks, soft bags or labelling errors including an intelligent camera syste

You want to elevate your event marketing campaigns with fresh, exciting materials that captivate and engage your target audience. You need unique branded merch, box kits, and swag bags to standout. But, where to start? Enter Almaden’s 2024 Event Lookbook. It may not solve all your problems, but it will strengthen the engagement at your next event! The State of Event Marketing Before we dive into the top trends that will help you this year, let’s get some context. Did you know that 63% of event marketing professionals predict that attendee numbers will return to pre-pandemic levels in the next one to two years. If you’re running events in 2024 and looking ahead to 2025, you’re in the right place. Perhaps more importantly, 80% of attendees say in-person events are the most trusted way to discover new products and services. Events empower marketers to connect with people one-on-one. Rarely, do marketers have the opportunity to speak directly with pro

According to Technopedia, “Future proof” describes a product, service or technological system that will not need to be significantly updated as technology advances. Purchasing a Future Proof Palletizer A palletizer purchased today must be as future-proof as possible because it will likely be in operation until 2034, or perhaps as far into the future as 2044. With a life expectancy of one to two decades, a palletizer built today must be engineered with machine control and layer configuration software, electro-mechanical parts, sensors, robots (for some applications), and other components that will perform efficiently and reliably as the machine ages. The manufacturer of the selected palletizer must also be a long-term partner able to provide after-market service and support capabilities that increase the likelihood of maintaining, and when needed, updating or modifying the palletizer to maximize machine life. Basic Considerations There are basic considerations that must

LISTEN IN Businesses are vital contributors to the communities they serve. Beyond stimulating the economy and creating jobs, many business owners go the extra mile by creating a meaningful philanthropy program. Their efforts profoundly impact facets of the community that need support the most. Welcome to Marketing Tip Monday with SIP Certified. We know customers are looking for wines labeled as sustainable. While our longer-form episodes help you learn about the latest science and research for the wine industry, these twice-monthly micro podcasts will help you share your dedication to sustainable winegrowing so you can show your customers that you share their values. Meaningful corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies give businesses the opportunity to connect with community members, improve company culture, and cultivate consumer trust, all while doing good for causes they believe in. This week’s Marketing Tip tells the Sustainable Story of how Oso Libre

Wine sales have a seasonal cycle to them. Wine orders, especially DTC wine orders, tend to spike during the holiday season (OND) and then even out in the new year, tapering off to a slower season as summer approaches. But inventory does not always match this cycle. It’s not uncommon for a winery to see pallets of inventory waiting to move just as the slow season starts.  Extra inventory can also happen if the year itself has been slow, regardless of what season it is. (And, for some wineries, that’s been the case this year—at least, if industry reports are to be believed.) That’s the puzzle: How do you get all that inventory to move? We’ve seen some simple ideas that work well, and which can help you use what you have to your best advantage. Idea #1: Mystery Cases People love a good mystery. And they love to explore new things. So create a wine club package that is a “mystery pack” or mystery case. Fill it with a selection of products

When asked to define the 3 P's of Sustainability (People, Planet, Prosperity), Prosperity is often the one gives people pause. But it's such an important leg of the stool! Sustainable businesses develop long-term plans and strategies to ensure they can thrive now and into the future. Welcome to Marketing Tip Monday with SIP Certified. We know customers are looking for wines labeled as sustainable. While our longer-form episodes help you learn about the latest science and research for the wine industry, these twice-monthly micro podcasts will help you share your dedication to sustainable winegrowing so you can show your customers that you share their values. LISTEN IN Some of the ways businesses embody Prosperity are through: Creating and sticking to a budget. Keeping thorough records. Creating informed and effective marketing plans. A business can also extend their prosperity through collaborative efforts with like-minded groups. When this happens, bot

DEC 14, 2023 TALKING TO THE QUEEN OF WINE INDUSTRY DIGITAL ENDEAVORS ABOUT HOW TO MAXIMIZE YOUR SMALL WINERY WEBSITE IN 2024… To round out 2023 on a high note, this week we have an interview with the incredible Susan DeMatei of WineGlass Marketing, talking about how small wineries can maximize their websites in 2024. Susan is the absolute guru when it comes to the unique challenges and opportunities that wineries have in the digital space, and I’m beyond thrilled that she has agreed to talk us. WHAT ARE SOME MISTAKES THAT YOU SEE SMALL WINERIES MAKING ON THEIR WEBSITES? Underestimating the impact of the internet. I get it. As a small winery you’re forced to deal with the fires right in front of you: The machinery that needs fixing, the staff that needs your attention, the utilities that need to get paid and the customers coming to your door. But while you’re doing those very important things, hundreds, if not thousands, of people will see your website this mon

Wine and spirits distributors do not always get full credit for their myriad of services offered.  With portfolios bursting at the seams, their role in the 3-tier system is difficult. We at Andavi Solutions would like to recognize some of the critical functions distributors perform on behalf of their supplier partners.  1) Training and Education Distributor sales teams include some of the most highly trained professionals in the industry. The training opportunities distributors provide are not solely for internal stakeholders. They also play a critical role in the education and training of their supplier partners.  It is sad but true to say that many brand owners do not properly train their people, and by default, distributors end up picking up the slack. Another vital area of training distributors provide is forecasting and inventory management (more on this below).  Distributors do a lot of staff training (far more than most suppliers), and they don&rs

Local Growers Gather to Celebrate Ten Years of Sustainable Winegrowing  SANTA ROSA, Calif.  (January 31, 2024) – Each year, when many of Sonoma County’s 1,800 certified sustainable winegrape growers gather for the Sonoma County Winegrowers’ (SCW) annual meeting, they want to know what is next for one of the world’s most sustainable winegrowing regions. Today, they learned the answer to their question: Sonoma County Winegrowers will embark on a major collaboration with one of the world’s most iconic brands, John Deere Company. The collaboration with John Deere will be an addition to SCW’s innovative Farm of the Future, a living lab for the future of agriculture and an innovation accelerator. Through this living lab, Sonoma County winegrowers and innovative companies can pilot concepts that may eventually result in game-changing solutions that can be shared with farmers across the country and around the world. John Deere is the latest co

Afternoon Brief, August 17th

New Sweet Spot for Direct Wine Sales: Consumers buying direct from wineries are trading up, but Napa is still too expensive for them...