Visitors and exhibitors to IBWSS 2019 clearly expressed that bulk wine has come of age and is now seen as the crucial market driver that it is.

Robert Joseph, The Wine Thinker, commentator, strategist, and winemaker opened up the IBWSS conference with a bang. His reflection on the sales of the brand The Prisoner for $40M, with bottles on US retailer shelves at $99.99, that had no winery, no vines and is a series of blends made the point that bulk wine needs to be taken very seriously.

The conference has been just one part of IBWSS incorporating wines, spirits and beer producers from around the world engaging with the most powerful UK drinks retailers and distributors.

Jackie Fast of Rebel Pi and latterly of BBCs The Apprentice kicked off Tuesday morning with an energetic, powerful presentation offering the audience 5 tips – run before you can walk, move fast, give something that the audience didn’t expect, overcome the people challenges.

Dominique Vrigneau, Watermill Wines Ltd, long term UK trader attended both days conference.

‘I have found both morning conferences very instructive with good insights on the bulk and private label market as well as thought-provoking visions and reflections about the future. It was certainly worth attending and I know that I picked up some ideas that my business will use. ‘

The trading floor of IBWSS was equally as lively with many visitors from various parts of the world and international exhibitors across beers, wines, and spirits.

Gordon Ratcliffe Business Development Manager Middle East and Africa of Angus Dundee  Distillers plc reported that of the tens of planned and impromptu meetings that they had, 25% had been serious business enquiries.

Viktoria Szovenyi Import Export Manager of Cantina Cortecchia said

‘IBWSS is an important meeting point for our existing UK customers. There are enough time and space for visitors to discuss and blend.’

Hazel Murphy of Cantina Cortecchia added ‘We get business out of the fair.’

The IBWSS now looks forward to opening up in Shanghai, China on 5-6 November 2019. Sid Patel CEO of IBWSS is anticipating an exciting show

‘IBWSS has proved to work in San Francisco and London, extending the great opportunities that the world of bulk wine, private and exclusive label across beers, wines, and spirits to the Chinese and South East Asian markets represents an important step in bringing producers and traders closer together, developing more opportunities for each.’

The IBWSS China registration, with early bird benefits, Ends on March 28th, 2019.