After reading a recent piece in the trade newsletter, www.retailleader.com , I was encouraged to learn that the DOJ’s Antitrust Division and the FBI have launched an initiative to “deter, detect, and prosecute those who would exploit the supply chain disruptions.” This has led to the “formation of a working group with global partners, including the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the Canadian Competition Bureau, the New Zealand Commerce Commission and the United Kingdom Competition and Markets Authority.”
It’s appalling that there are companies and individuals who are taking advantage of the supply chain situation created post-Covid, and are lining their own pockets by fixing prices and overcharging customers. But it is good news that the government will track down and prosecute these bad actors. However, we are still bedeviled by stalled ships and late shipments, ratcheting up a future of higher prices for everything.
A recent review of my daily shipping logs confirms this. Particularly interesting in a recent log is the Drifting vs Anchor vs Arrived ships. Dates for ETAs are surreal as they are past due, and delays are 30 to 45 days beyond scheduled arrival date. The Drifting category is why none of us know what to expect. Unfortunately, I believe these Issues are likely to last a long while, probably up to the end of the year.
International experts expect similar long-lasting supply chain bottlenecks. While the German publication Wein.plus Wine Magazine recently assessed the 2022 outlook for the international wine industry as positive, they said it with this important caveat: “…cost increases and supply chain disruptions are perceived as a threat.” ((https://magazine.wein.plus/news/). Now, of course, we have the Russia-Ukraine conflict added to the threats.
On another front, industry analysts say that climate change and stricter environmental regulations are concerning producers even more than trade issues, believing they will have a much longer and more profound impact on the health of the industry.
So what to do? Since the beginning of the pandemic—even long before—we at Global Package initiated and solidified partnerships, both domestic and international, to ensure our manufacturers and suppliers are allied in a supportive, strong, sustainable, and close-knit network of resources for us.
A primary example of these strong relationships is Estal, a glass customization specialist, with which we have worked for years and which has consistently led with innovative designs and production practices. Pre-pandemic, Estal introduced its beautiful and ecological Wild Glass™ line of bottles to an enthusiastic US and international market. These bottles are 100% sustainable “real cycled” glass bottles that are one-of-a-kind, since slight imperfections in the natural formation of the glass are allowed to remain, while retaining all the manufacturing positives of automated glass, much like organic handmade art. Estal’s process also doesn’t discard bottles with cosmetic defects, which reduces the discard rate from 25% to 15%.
Global Package also offers Estal’s Sommelier Mouth (SM) bottles, which feature an anti-drip barrier and groove guides to facilitate a clean, straight cut of the capsule. The line includes the Essentia Burgundy, Bordeaux, and fluted Espiga bottles. All are available in Flint, Wild Glass, and Antique options.
And further addressing environmental concerns, Global Package has in stock the full line of Elegant Light™ bottles, lighter weight bottles that result in more economical and ecological shipping, and which come in the full range of classical shapes and colors.
Yes, these are trying times. But working with a trusted and competent supplier will help relieve the stress of uncertainty. We invite you to learn more about all that Global Package has to offer.
Global Package (www.globalpackage.net) is located in Napa Valley and has an experienced team to provide the best bottles sourced from worldwide factories. It also provides custom shippers, glass decoration, pewter labels, and closures for the wine industry. When it comes to providing custom and specialty bottles and packaging, the firm leads the way in finding solutions to provide a comprehensive and attractive outcome that sets a brand apart. Contact: 2793 Napa Valley Corporate Drive, Napa, CA 94558, and 707-224-5670.