The Guala Closures Group, based in California, have recently appointed Dave Campbell from New Zealand to lead their North American business.
Having helped launch aluminum screwcaps to the New Zealand wine industry in 2005, Campbell returned to the Guala Group in 2019 and has made the move to Napa Valley to continue to promote the use of aluminum closures throughout the wine industry in North America.
“I’m excited to be here and be based in such a famous and thriving wine region. The New Zealand wine industry has really embraced aluminum closures with 99% of all wines under screwcap, so there are lots of opportunities within the local industry to talk to the benefits of aluminum closures, both for the wine and particularly the consumer.”
“One of the best parts of my role in New Zealand was working with a new generation of winemakers who keep challenging convention to produce world class wines. Now based in North America, I’m looking forward to getting to know the local industry who I believe have the same pioneering style thinking.”
With continued supply chain pressures coming from global shipping and logistics shortages, Campbell says the Guala Group is heavily committed to the North American region.
“We have some exciting things in the pipeline and are continuing to explore ways we can better partner our loyal customers. This means we need more agility and focus than ever before.”
The Guala Closures Group is based in Fairfield, California, and is headquartered in Italy. The group is the world leader in aluminum and specialty closures for spirits, wine, oil and non-alcoholic beverages.
Q+A with Dave
The best thing about living in California
No doubt the weather! We have only been here a few weeks and it’s been superb. The people have also been amazing and very welcoming to the family – we are lucky there are a few Kiwi’s and Aussie’s in the valley also.
Your first thoughts on the local wine industry
The industry is in a strong position – but with an everchanging landscape such as the European political situation and continued supply chain pressures, there are always day to day challenges. I’ve been a customer longer than I’ve been a supplier in this industry, and to overcome these challenges we need to work even more closely together. Personally, we have loved exploring the regions and sub regions locally – we are spoilt for choice!
Something you’ll miss about NZ
Not having to use a corkscrew… (sponsored comment 😊), plus friends and family
How is the wine industry different to NZ?
Obviously the scale is on a different level here, but the same innovative, ‘get it done’ attitude is really evident here as it is back home. The dynamism of the people is what first attracted me to the industry 20 years ago when I started.
What’s your plan for your first year in the US?
Obviously, I have a lot to learn about the local industry, but we want to ensure we are set up to grow with our customers over the coming years. A lot of this comes from investment in innovation and sustainability projects that help give our customers new and exciting things to talk about in their markets. We want to be open to new ideas on how we work faster with our customers, this includes not just physical production, but ordering systems, technology and freight. It’s an exciting time.