Industry Insights

Woolworths Liquor Restructures Senior Management

Woolworths has announced significant changes to senior management roles in both its Food and Liquor businesses today. The most significant change sees Brad Banducci, previously Director of Liquor at Woolworths, appointed as Managing Director of the Australian Food and Liquor business. Woolworths Chief Executive Officer, Grant O’Brien said today: “We have appointed a new leadership … Continued

February 27, 2015

Ginstronomy – Innovation in a Flat Market

At the end of last year, Raj Nagra, Global Brand Ambassador of 13 years for Bombay Sapphire was in Australia, supporting the launch of the brand’s latest initiative here – Project Botanicals. Project Botanicals was a unique activation run by the brand between mid-November to the beginning of December, which invited consumers to its pop-up … Continued

February 25, 2015

Positive Forecasts for Hunter Valley 2015 Vintage Despite Rain

Despite concern over heavy rainfall in the Hunter Valley three weeks ago, the region reports positive forecasts. Since the rain passed, the Hunter Valley has experienced temperate (26-28 degrees) weather. Although still cooler than the region’s typical vintage standard, a good strong breeze has dried out tightly bunched fruit, avoiding disease, while the warming temperatures … Continued

February 12, 2015

Yalumba Proprietor Stands as New AFFW Chairman

Robert Hill-Smith, fifth generation descendant of Samuel Smith and proprietor of Australia’s oldest wine company, Yalumba, has been appointed as Australia’s First Families of Wine’s (AFFW) new Chairman, taking over from Mitchell Taylor, Managing Director and third generation Winemaker at Taylors Wines. AFFW represents 12 of Australia’s leading and oldest Australian families, who since 2009 … Continued

January 30, 2015

US Wine Market Anticipates Year of Strong Growth

Rob McMillan, Exec. Vice President & Founder at Silicon Valley Bank Wine Division, has released his report on the State of the Wine Industry 2015. The report provides insight into predictions for the US wine market in 2015 – the largest wine market and one of the most influential – wider global trends and how … Continued

January 30, 2015

Australia’s Hottest 100 Craft Beers

Feral Brewery from WA has been voted as the number one Australian craft beer in the ‘Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers’ poll, for the third year running. Run by co-owners of The Local Taphouse venues, the Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers poll asks craft beer venues across Australia to vote for their favourite Australian craft … Continued

January 30, 2015

Riverland Wine Calls for Reform to Tax Hikes

Riverland Wine, the representative body for South Australian Riverland wine producers, is calling on Government to put an end to Australian wine’s “preferential” tax rate. The body joins the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia, along with others such as the Wolf Blass Foundation, in their campaign to reform wine tax hikes. Federation Chief Executive, Paul Evans, … Continued

January 29, 2015

Alcohol-Related Violence is Down ALSA Reports

A report conducted by the Australian Liquor Stores Association (ALSA) and released this week, has found that that both “risky” drinking and alcohol related violence are down. The ‘Report into Australia’s Changing Drinking Habits: The facts about Australia’s alcohol usage’, finds that alcohol consumption has declined by 25 per cent since the 1970s, while alcohol-related … Continued

January 29, 2015

Heavy Rain Dampens Hunter Valley Winemakers’ Vintage

Heavy rain over the last few days has Hunter winemakers worried for the 2015 red vintage. While the majority of white grapes have been picked in the region, the reds are not quite ready. Weather stations in the region have recorded 40mm of rainfall. Hunter Valley Vigneron and Winemaker, Andrew Margan, says the rain could … Continued

January 29, 2015