How IBWSS Hopes to Help Buyers “Take Back Control” of Supply Chain

If you are involved in selling, buying or importing wine from around the world then IBWSS London could be the show for you.

We have all probably heard enough of our politicians talking about “taking back control” of our decision making power and factors that determine our economic futures. But when it comes to business, having complete control of all aspects of your supply chain and cost base is vitally important. As we sleepwalk towards Brexit, that need is going to be even more paramount. This March’s International Bulk Wine & Spirits Show hopes to provide the platform for the industry to come together and address both the challenges and opportunities ahead.

The wine industry often proudly claims to be different to any other FMCG sector in that its dynamics are essentially dictated to by Mother Nature and you can’t simply press a button and manufacture more wine.

The vagaries in the weather will dictate what size of grape harvests we will have around the world, and how much wine there is to trade in.

So it is a constant challenge for buyers, retailers, restaurants groups, importers and distributors to have enough wine at the right price in their own supply chain.

That need to “take more control” and have the right volumes of wines available at any one time has not only driven the rise in the amount of bulk wine that is now being shipped and traded around the world, but the huge rise in private label and exclusive wines that retailers, merchants and suppliers can also use to dictate their own terms and pricing.

Dedicated event

Growing parts of our industry that require specialist knowledge and understanding. If that is where you find yourself and your business increasingly moving towards then this March’s International Bulk Wine & Spirits Show in London is tailor-made for you.

Launched for the first time in the US nearly three years ago, this event, dedicated to the machinations of the bulk and private label industry, has proved a welcome new arrival on the global conference circuit. This year’s London exhibition and conference, to be held between March 11 and 12, follows the inaugural show held last year.

The event is essentially split into two parts: a trading and exhibition floor featuring many of the world’s largest brokers and producers in bulk wine, flexitank equipment suppliers, technology experts, logistics suppliers, bottling companies and more.

Major conference

Sitting alongside this is a major international business conference looking at all aspects of supply chain, bulk, bottling and private label. Here the focus is very much on sharing best practice and hearing directly both from sides of the fence including producers and brokers through to importers, distributors, buyers, and retailers on what are their challenges and needs moving into 2019.

Speakers lined up to take part this year cover a wide range of skills, experiences and backgrounds, including Tesco, Waitrose, Accolade Wines, Reh Kendermann, Enotria&Coe, Majestic Wine, and bulk wine brokers and trading sites Ciatti and VINEX.

There will be key talks from:

1. Rob Dixon, senior buying manager at Tesco who will look at the pace of change happening within the grocery retail sector.

2. Jamie Matthewson, buying manager, Waitrose who will look at: How Retailers Can Develop and Market Premium Private Label Programs.

3. Richard Lloyd, general manager European Operations and Supply Chain at Accolade Wines, who will claim: Why UK Bottled Wine Is Fresher Than When Bottled At Source?

4. Alison Flemming MW, exports sales director at Reh Kendermann  who will look at Bulk partnerships – the right choice (or everything you wanted to know about what can go wrong – and how you can prevent it)

5. Maggie McPherson, wine buyer, Enotria&Coe – Why Bulk Wine Is Relevant In The On-Trade

There will also be the expert opinion from a mixture of consultants and business entrepreneurs including:

1. Mark Meek, drinks analyst at IWSR who will ask: What Are Consumers Really Looking For?

2. Catherine Mendoza, wine broker at Ciatti Europe will assess the global bulk wine trends and opportunities.

3. Robert Jospeh, wine producer, consultant and writer who will look at how Amazon and millennials and bulk wine are going to change the wine industry.

4. Jackie Fast, BBC Apprentice contestant who set up and sold her own sports sponsorship business and now has her own ice wine brand, Rebel Pi who will look at the parallels between her different careers.

There will also be two set-piece debates. One hosted by The Buyer’s Richard Siddle which will analyse worldwide wine sourcing trends and look at the new opportunities, regions, countries, and styles that are opening up for buyers to the source, ship, bottle and develop brands and own label at all key commercial price points around the world. Featuring:

1. Beth Pearce, buyer, Majestic Wine,

2. Rebecca Palmer, Associate Director & Buyer at Corney & Barrow

3. Paul Schaafsma, Managing Director, Benchmark Drinks

4. Mark Roberts, Head of Sales, Lanchester Wines

5. Paul Attwood, Philippe, European manager for VINEX

Following the success of the first event, space is already being taken up for the London 2019 event and anyone interested should look to register for the conference and exhibition.

Where and when 

March 11-12, 2019. The Royal Horticultural Halls, 80 Vincent Square, London, SW1P 2PE

Who should attend?

1. HoReCa business owners that have any interest in developing own or exclusive labels.

2. Suppliers looking to supply UK HoReCa businesses

3. Marketing Directors & Managers seeking to identify strategies to drive new business

4. CEOs CIOs seeking to develop own and exclusive strategies

5. Logistics executives seeking ways of being more efficient

Get your FREE Visitor Pass for the IBWSS Expo floor here.

About IBWSS UK

International Bulk Wine & Spirits show London is an annual trade show and gathering of Bulk Wine, Bulk Spirits, and Private Label professionals in the UK. We offer our buyers a greater opportunity to meet producers who offer private label wine, spirits, bulk wine, bulk spirits, and contract manufacturing.