The growing importance of bulk wine in the global wine industry is reflected in the fact the International Bulk Wine & Spirits Show has been expanded to cover three events covering the United States, China and the UK over the next 18 months.
The IBWSS San Francisco event was the first of its kind for the US bulk wine sector
The IBWSS concept was only introduced last year at its first event in San Francisco, followed by hosting the first dedicated bulk wine show in the UK in February. The show is returning to San Francisco between July 25-26, before its second UK event in London next March (11-12).
It will then move to China with what will be the first dedicated bulk wine show in the country between November 5-6, 2019 in Shanghai.
Bulk wine is fast becoming one of the most important categories in China’s burgeoning domestic and imported wine industry. 2017 saw quarter after quarter of growth for bulk wine as retailers and wholesalers looked to introduce more of their own private label and exclusive brands as an alternative to more expensive bottled wines.
There was, for example, a 92% increase in volumes of bulk wine imported between July to September 2017, reaching 56.29 million litres worth US$47.17 million, a 100% increase in value compared to the same period in 2016 (China Customs).
Overall there was 180m litres of bulk wine shipped to China in 2017 up from 143m in 2016,
Bulk wine has helped create a new wine category in China known as OEM wines, where wines is imported in bulk and then bottled under a company’s own label.
China ships most of its bulk wine from Spain, with 63m litres imported in 2017. Free trade agreements with Chile and Argentina has also seen a big increase in bulk shipments from both countries, with 56m litres of Chilean wine imported in 2017 and 37m of Australian wine. They are followed by France (11m), South Africa (7.9m), Portugal and Italy. Up to two thirds of Chile’s exports to China are now in bulk wine.
Chinese consumers are now happy drinking private label and retailer exclusive wines
Understanding bulk wine
All three events follow a similar format with a trade exhibition featuring leading wineries, producers, importers and wholesalers, combined with a high level conference programme covering the key bulk wine issues in the respective countries.
The theme for the forthcoming San Francisco event is “Bulk up your Bottom Line” and how important bulk and bottled in market wine now is in the US where private label is taking an increasing share of the wine category.
Speakers lined up to take part include:
- Kevin Boyer, president and ceo, Custom Vine
- Jeffrey P. Cody, wine buyer for Whole Foods
- Steve Dorfman, partner at Ciatti Company
- Eric Guerra, chief sales and marketing Officer, Terravant Wine Co.
- Kevin Mehra, president and founder, Latitude Beverage
- Ben Salisbury, president, Salisbury Creative Group
Early bird for London
Details for the second IBWSS in London are still being finalised but is expected to follow a similar theme where the emphasis will be very much on how and why bulk wine has to be part of any major wine importer, distributor or retail strategy.
Clem Yates MW set out why private label just is so important for major wine buyers at this year’s IBWSS show in London
This year’s event saw keynote talks from leading retailers, including Morrisons, bulk wine importers, bottlers and brand developers such as Kingsland Drinks, Lanchester Wines and Broadland Wineries and a wide range of wine businesses including Copestick Murray, Off Piste Wines and JF Hillebrand.
It also included insights from leading bulk wine specialists and traders Ciatti and VINEX Exchange.
Anyone interested in exhibiting or registering for next year’s event can take advantage of early bird registration until the end of June by clicking here.
China bound
The China event marks the growing importance of the overall Chinese wine market, which now has over 450 domestic wineries stretched across its six major wine producing regions (Hebei, Ningxia, Shandong, Shanxi, Xinjiang and Yunnan).
Key issues to be covered at the China event will include:
● What retailers are really looking for in private and bulk suppliers
● Regulatory issues specific to bulk products
● How retailers can build profitable private label programs
● Private label and bulk strategy for importers and distributors
● Trends and opportunities in the global bulk market
● Why and how to ship in bulk to China
● Leveraging bulk and private label best practices
● How to market to young millennial wine drinkers in China
● Quality challenges facing bulk wine
The show also hopes to assess how Chinese wine drinkers differ from in mainstream western markets in the US and Europe and what steps producers need to take to get round China’s regulatory rules governing wine imports.
Anyone interested in finding out more about the China event can go to www.ibwsshowchina.com
- If you are looking to exhibit or register for next year’s UK event in March you can take advantage of early bird registration until the end of June by clicking here.
