Why It’s Time to Take Control of Chain Retail Pricing In the wine & spirits business, the difference between a best-seller and a case that never sees the shelf often comes down to something so mundane, it’s almost embarrassing to say out loud: Pricing. Not the actual price point — the accuracy of it. There are already plenty of reasons your product might not make it to the shelf — a buyer reorg, a freight delay, the seasonal shuffle, or simply the chaos of modern retail. So when you’ve beaten the odds and secured a coveted placement with one of the nation’s top chain retailers, the last thing that should kill the momentum is a clerical error. And yet, that’s exactly what happens when the price on the invoice doesn’t match the price in the retailer’s system. One mismatch, and the product gets refused at the dock — benched before it ever had a shot. No match = no receiving. No receiving = no shelf placement. No pl

Combating declining consumption and tasting room visits is the current pressing priority for small and medium-sized wineries whose primary source of revenue has been direct-to-consumer (DtC) sales. Waiting for the situation to change is no longer an option. Instead, wineries are turning to their existing customers to maximize short-term revenue and draw in new customers to rebuild their base.  This task can seem daunting, but wineries with the vinSUITE integrated DtC software platform have a powerful new tool at hand. The recently released vinSIGHT transforms the sales data automatically collected by vinSUITE into actionable insights. This new predictive analytical platform analyzes the winery’s historical customer behavior patterns and predicts wine club churn with up to 94% confidence, enabling wineries to prevent revenue loss before members cancel. Jimmy Wu, vinSUITE’s President, explains: “By the time wine club churn shows up in standard reports, that revenue is already l

For winemakers and distillers, crafting exceptional beverages is only part of the journey. To ensure your product maintains its premium quality and reaches consumers in perfect condition, the preservation of both its taste and appearance is critical. This is where the often-overlooked factor of glass color comes into play. The color of your bottle can have a profound impact on the longevity, flavor stability, and overall appeal of your wine or spirit. By understanding how different glass colors protect against light damage, you can make more informed packaging choices that safeguard your product’s quality and enhance its shelf life. In this article, we’ll explore the science behind glass color and light exposure, explain how traditional and modern glass choices can protect your product, and provide insights into balancing practical preservation needs with aesthetic considerations. Whether you’re crafting aged whiskey or fine wine, the right glass color is more

Most wineries don’t have a promotion volume problem. They have a promotion design problem. When you look closely at wineries delivering strong margins alongside steady consumer sales growth, patterns start to appear. Not because those promotions are trendy or copied from competitors, but because they are intentionally designed to drive revenue while protecting long-term customer behavior and brand value. Modern promotion strategy is not about running more campaigns. It is about structuring incentives that influence how, when, and why customers buy. Across the strongest performing wineries, promotions are increasingly treated as part of the revenue model rather than just part of the marketing calendar. They shape demand, influence order composition, and support long-term customer value. Why Promotion Strategy Is Really Revenue Strategy Promotions are no longer just marketing tactics. They are one of the most controllable levers inside a winery’s DTC P&L. For most wineri

The wine and spirits industry is standing on the precipice of a major design evolution. For years, “premium” was defined by weight, excess, and tradition. For 2026, a new definition of luxury is emerging; one that values intelligence over mass, and tactile storytelling over simple visual appeal. For brand owners and procurement leaders, staying ahead of these glass packaging trends in 2026 is no longer just about aesthetics; it is a matter of strategic survival. From the rise of “quiet luxury” and right-weighted glass to the complex pressures of global supply chains, the packaging decisions made today will define brand resilience tomorrow. In this forecast, we explore how sustainable luxury, ergonomic innovation, and smart supply chain strategies are reshaping the premium landscape, and how Global Package provides the specialized glass solutions needed to help you navigate this future. The State of Glass Packaging for Wine & Spirits At Global Package, we&r

Vineyard irrigation has a familiar frustration. You can do everything right and still end the day wondering whether each set actually ran the way you intended. A stuck valve, a pressure issue, a line break, or a simple timing miss can quietly turn into wasted water, uneven blocks, and unnecessary stress. In many vineyards, the only reliable way to catch those problems is still the old way. Drive out, walk the line, and check. At a time when the wine industry is navigating declining demand and tightening margins, lowering operational costs matters more than ever. Growers are looking for ways to cut labor, reduce water waste, and get more certainty from every dollar invested in the vineyard because the broader wine market continues to face headwinds. Global wine consumption has seen persistent downward pressure in recent years, and many regions are adjusting acreage and operations in response to weaker demand. Visit Verdi at Unified Verdi will be exhibiting at the 2026 Unified Wine &

With new leadership and a sharpened focus on wineries, vinSUITE signals a smarter, more ambitious future for its platform and clients. vinSUITE, a long-standing technology partner to wineries and beverage alcohol producers since 2003, today announced the appointment of Jimmy Wu as President. Wu’s arrival marks the start of a new chapter for vinSUITE, one defined by closer alignment with the wine industry, deeper listening to clients, and a clearer, more ambitious vision for the future of winery software.   vinSUITE continues under Constellation Software ownership, ensuring the same long-term stability and support our winery partners expect.  Jimmy Wu brings nearly 20 years of experience leading software organizations through customer-centered transformation, with a strong focus on improving product quality, customer support, and user experience. He is known for building teams that listen closely to clients and translate their challenges into clear product direction and

HOBO Data Loggers receives “Crop Monitoring Solution of the Year” in 2025 AgTech Breakthrough Awards Program for the HOBOnet Wireless Sensor Network Annual awards program recognizes innovation in agricultural & food technologies around the globe BOURNE, Mass., – HOBO Data Loggers, a LI-COR® brand and leading manufacturer known for accurate and reliable data loggers, today announced it has been awarded “Crop Monitoring Solution of the Year” in the 5th annual AgTech Breakthrough Awards program conducted by AgTech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies, technologies, and products in the global agricultural and food technology markets today. The HOBOnet Wireless Sensor Network delivers cost-effective, distributed, wireless, and scalable in-field crop monitoring. Designed to empower growers with real-time environmental data for improved decision-making, HOBOnet provides precise, site-specific insights

The 2026 edition of Verallia’s Trend Book developed in collaboration with Carlin Creative, highlights deep and lasting transformations in consumer behaviors across the food and beverage sectors. Consumers increasingly seek authenticity, functional benefits, and formats that foster togetherness. These shifts are prompting brands to view packaging not merely as a container, but as a strategic asset at the heart of their relationship with consumers.  Profound and lasting market shifts The food and beverage industry is undergoing structural change. This particularly evident in wine and spirits, where moderation has emerged as a defining global trend. At the same time, new categories are gaining traction, most notably no-and low-alcohol beverages, which are expected to grow by 7% annually between 2023 and 2026 (IWSR, 2025). This reflects a broader cultural shift: moderation is no longer a marginal trend or limited to younger demographics, but a mainstream behavior across generat

Labels do much more than identify a product. They communicate ingredients, allergens, safety warnings, and branding. When they’re wrong or poorly applied, the consequences are serious. Why Labels Matter Consumers rely on labels for everything from nutritional information to batch numbers. Clarity builds trust; errors erode it. In highly regulated industries like pharmaceuticals, a misprinted or misapplied label can lead to recall or fines. Building Trust Through Quality High‑quality labels signal professionalism and care. Durable materials, crisp printing, and precise placement create a positive impression. They also reduce waste and rework. Investing in reliable labelling equipment shows your commitment to quality. Common Compliance Pitfalls Missing allergens or ingredient details Inconsistent print quality or faded text Labels obstructing barcodes or tamper‑evident seals Wrong label on the wrong product Regular audits and modern equipment help avoid these issues. Machines with