Albertsons becomes first-ever retailer to join Wine Market Council

Albertsons Companies has made history as the first supermarket chain to join the US' Wine Market Council. Dr. Liz Thach MW, president of the Wine Market Council told db what the arrival of Albertsons means for the organisation: "As one of the largest wine retailers in the nation, it [Albertsons] is on the frontline, interacting daily with consumers. Because our mission is to provide cutting-edge research on US wine consumer attitudes and trends, this is an excellent partnership." "A further bonus is the appointment of Curtis Mann MW to our board of directors. Our members unanimously voted for him. With his deep understanding of the industry we look forward to his advice on key topics and issues that we are trying to address," Thach continued. Albertsons Companies is one of the US' biggest retailers, with more than 2,200 stores across 34 states – outlets it oversees include Safeways, Randalls, Barducci's and Market Street, as well as those carrying the Albertsons brand. Among the other current members of the the Wine Market Council, which was founded in 1996, are groups including Allied Grape Growers, Beverage Trade Network, Silicon Valley Bank Wine Division and the Oregon Wine Board, as well as drinks giants including Constellation Brands (which recently offloaded six of its wine brands), Southern Glazer's Wines & Spirits and Treasury Wine Estates.

Current climate

Given the ongoing turmoil surrounding US President Donald Trump's tariffs, as well as general worries about declining wine consumption, the role of a body such as the Wine Market Council might be seen as more crucial than ever. "We recently addressed these issues at our annual research conference in Napa on 2 April, where we had expert speakers address the potential impact of tariffs, such as Francis Creighton, CEO of the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America and Danny Brager, former SVP with NielsenIQ, who spoke to the issues of uncertainty," Thach explained. "Right now we are experiencing a time of turbulence, which presents many challenges, but also opportunities. One of the major opportunities is for the wine industry to work together to remind consumers of the positive attributes of wine: an 8,000-year-old beverage of moderation, diplomacy, collaboration, romance, and bringing people together." Asked if the arrival of Albertsons to the fold might herald further new members, Thach said: "As a non-profit focused on providing cutting-edge research on the US wine consumer, we are always open to welcoming new retailers to our membership. We already have several other retailers, such as Total Wine & More, not to mention the many wineries that sell their wine directly to consumers. Our membership is open to all types of wine businesses, including growers, producers, distributors, importers, trade associations, universities, retailers, and other wine business affiliates."