It can be hard to find the time in our schedules to take two days out to attend an industry conference, but the chance to get on top of key bulk wine and spirits trends at IBWSS in San Francisco could actually save you not only time but money further down the line.

The International Bulk Wine & Spirits Show promises to deliver exactly what it says. A unique opportunity for everyone involved in the production, shipping, processing, marketing, buying and selling of bulk wine and spirits to come together in one place. Each part of the supply chain has its own needs, opportunities and challenges and the IBWSS is the place to address them. None more so than the buyers of national retail chains tasked with sourcing, and selling the right wines for their customers.

Here’s how the IBWSS can help them and their needs: 

1. First-hand experience

The IBWSS has been set up to provide a platform for buyers to talk face to face with producers, brokers, and suppliers at each stage of the bulk wine and spirits supply chain and share experiences on where the pressure points are and what new opportunities there are to capitalize on.

2. Practical advice

Talks, seminars, and workshops at IBWSS have all been set up to provide buyers with key practical advice on both the buying, technical and legal aspects of working in bulk wine. Like what you need to cover in any supplier/buyer distribution agreements, what questions you need to ask your bulk wine supplier, how to manage annual currency fluctuations and how to capitalize on new bulk markets.

3.  Global show

One of the key selling points of IBWSS is that it truly is international. The chance to hear directly from producers and wineries in all the key main wine producing countries about the state of this year’s harvest and to get the competitive edge on where the best value grapes will be over the coming year.

4. Developing exclusive and private brands

With increased pressure to hit key price points whilst keeping wine quality high, then buyers are going to be expected to look more at developing their own exclusive and own label brands. IBWSS provides the platform to make contacts with the right businesses and people to help you get new private label brands to market faster than the competition.

5. Bottling and shipping partners

The quality of bulk wine now makes it arguably, at certain price points, a better product than one bottled at source. But it means working with the right logistics companies, shippers and bottling plants to ensure the wine tasted at the sampling stage are the same quality as the wine that ends up in a bottle on a shelf. Buyers can make use of the exhibition hall at the show to find the right supplier partners to work with.

6. Discovering bulk spirits

The IBWSS is the only event of its type that brings the world of bulk wine and spirits together. The bulk spirits market may not be of the scale of its wine counterpart but there are exciting new opportunities and the IBWSS provides buyers with a unique platform to discuss them.

7.  Understanding the consumer

Understanding and engaging with the average consumer has long been the wine industry’s Achilles heel. Buyers at IBWSS will have the chance to hear from a leading consumer, marketing and advertising experts on what they see as the key consumer trends of today and tomorrow and how wine and spirits buyers can capitalize on them.