Home Wine Business Editorial Three Tier Talk Change Is in the Wine from the Wine and Spirit Daily Summit

Change Is in the Wine from the Wine and Spirit Daily Summit

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There was an overarching sense of “tiger by the tail” mentality about millennials, RTD drinks, craft everything, and distributor consolidation. There were some musings about DTC shipping, Amazon, the next Fireball and Yellow Tail, cans over bottle and of course, wine in a box.

I left the summit with a sense of we all know everything, and we all know nothing. What does that mean? It means that no one saw fireball coming. No one saw the screw cap as anything more than a cheap closure. No one saw the RTD boom that is currently happening and soaring with record sales.

So we, the pundits, all sit on a panel and pontificate, but the reality is that we don’t know. We can guess better than most but no one knows anything.

  • Gin and Rum are going to pop
  • Anything mixology is hot
  • Distribution model is challenged now for small brands
  • Boots on the street to sell will succeed over suits in a boardroom
  • Boxed wine is pretty good
  • Wine mixology is a thing
  • Dark red blends will grow
  • American Rosé is not as aspirational as French Rosé but a nice option
  • Distributors will buy your brands rather than grow their own

2017 will be a transformative year in our business. This is a year, as I have said before, where the small player will have a major impact on the market. With the Internet being the Internet it gives a small producer, distributor and brand the same megaphone that the big 5 have.

It would be one thing if I was spouting alone, but this summit has showed me that my ranting from the mountain is echoed by players in the game both big and small.

My father would say, if one guy calls you an ass – don’t worry about it, if 10 guys call you an ass, then buy a saddle.

With that I say to my readers, buy a saddle! 2017 will be a year of innovation and change for the adult beverage industry

Brian RosenExpert Editorial
by Brian RosenRosen Retail Method

Brian Rosen is Former CEO of America’s #1 Retailer, Sam’s Wines in Chicago, Former Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Retail and sought after retailer consultant.

He can be reached at @roseretail or brian@briandrosen.com

 
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