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Trade Activity
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY LUNCHEON 2016
INDIVIDUALS FROM THE DRINKS INDUSTRY GATHERED AT SYDNEY CRICKET GROUND (SCG) FOR THE 2016 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY LUNCHEON IN MARCH.
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THE ANNUAL EVENT IS HOSTED AND ORGANISED BY ‘WOMEN IN DRINKS’ – AN INITIATIVE OF THE DRINKS ASSOCIATION – AND THIS YEAR FOCUSED ON EMPOWERING WOMEN TO LEAD.
The Women in drinks Board was founded in March 2014 by the association to provide networking and growth opportunities for women within the drinks industry. The forum has grown significantly since then, and this year two new members joined the board - Sally Byrne from Coca-Cola Amatil and Julie Ryan from Accolade Wines.
“Personal empowerment involves developing the confidence and strength to set realistic goals and fulfil your potential,” Sandra Przibilla, CEO of the drinks association said.
“When women adopt leadership roles, they contribute a unique set of skills, ideas and life experiences that can broaden the entire company’s insights, strategies and bottom line.
“Today is testament to the new Board of Women in drinks and its renewed focus on reaching out and promoting the professional networking opportunities this forum offers to our industry.”
The main attraction of the event was a panel discussion between four highly respected, female leaders from the drinks industry.
Facilitated by freelance journalist Angela Catterns, panellists included General Manager of Merchandising and Marketing for Woolworths Liquor Group, Rose Scott; founder of Lisa McGuigan Wines, Lisa McGuigan; Group Managing Director of CCA, Alison Watkins; and founder/Director of Mondo Search, Simone Allan.
Sharing the stories of their own career paths, each woman elaborated on why they believe more women should take leadership within the industry.
“51 per cent of our customers are females, so you ask yourself why wouldn’t you have an equal number of women behind the business as well,” Scott said.
But Watkins added that the issue involves more than just addressing the number of women in workplaces.
Talking about CCA, Watkins said: “When we really drill down and look at where the women within our business are, we find that they tend to be concentrated in junior and functional roles like marketing and HR, and less in operational roles, such as running our factories or managing a sales team.”
“So for us it’s really about making sure that we’re not only increasing the number at all levels, but also making sure that we’re helping our women develop skills and creating the opportunities for them to move into other areas across the company.”
Lisa Mcguigan stressed the importance of workplaces providing professional support and training for women.
She said: “I think we don’t focus enough on HR and creating a training department within that, particularly in the wine industry. While it doesn’t generate any revenue, it creates a really great team and confidence among employees.
“When I was working in hospitality, I gained so much confidence from doing training courses and even just being selected to do a course.”
Simone added from her experience in recruitment, the value of women to business.
“I think that women have amazing intuition, which lends them well to roles that involve forecasting and planning.
“I think that women also bring a great sense of connectedness to a business.
“My advice to women that want to be in leadership roles would be to set goals, find a role that you’re passionate about and that plays to your strengths, and find mentors – people who will help you grow, ground and inspire you.” Contact the drinks association to find out what networking and professional development opportunities are available to you through Women in drinks. You can also stay updated and see photos from the event by liking the Women in drinks Facebook page.
Mondo Search is one of Australia’s leading Executive Search and Recruitment companies. The destination for best hidden talent - dedicated to the drinks, food and drinks trade|79 hospitality sectors for over 18 years. We care about your career journey!
TRADE ACTIVITY
THE BUSINESS BEHIND THE BRANDS
L-R: Colin Campbell, Assistant Minister Senator Anne Ruston, Wolf Blass, John Angove and inaugural Life Member recipient, Phil Laffer
WINE INDUSTRY WELCOMES NEWEST LIFE MEMBERS
John Angove, Colin Campbell and Wolf Blass have been welcomed as the newest Life Members of the Australian wine industry. The Life Members were inducted by the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia at a special awards presentation in Adelaide at the end of March. Each was recognised for their efforts and contribution to the country’s vineyards and wineries, helping to create a vibrant and modern industry and placing Australian wine on the global stage. Chairman of Angove Family Winemakers, John Angove AM, has long been recognised for his contributions to numerous industry and research organisations and for championing organic winemaking in Australia. Wolf Blass is well known for becoming Australia’s first freelance wine consultant and for his wine brand Wolf Blass Wines, which he set up in 1973. Wolf was previously awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his role in helping to develop the nation’s wine industry and promoting excellence in winemaking, viticulture and research. Colin Campbell is a fourth generation winemaker at Campbells Wines in the Rutherglen wine region. Colin’s lifelong passion has been to see Rutherglen muscat recognised worldwide as a unique wine of Australia. He is recognised for establishing the Muscat of Rutherglen Network and its classification system, which is now used across the country.
APPLY FOR THE HOSTPLUS HOSPITALITY SCHOLARSHIP
Applications for the Hostplus Hospitality Scholarship supported by Melbourne Food and Wine (MFW) are open, offering one of the industry’s rising stars a careerchanging opportunity to work across the globe. The winner will be flown to three different countries to work in several internationally acclaimed hospitality businesses, followed by a one year mentorship facilitated by MFW and the organisation’s extensive global network. Online applications for the Hostplus Hospitality Scholarship close 5pm AEST on 22 April 2016. The Scholarship is open to Australian residents aged 22–35, currently working in hospitality with at least two years’ experience. Apply here: www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au/festival-info/scholarship
Future Influencers of the Drinks Industry met with Glenn McGrath at Archie Rose Bar in March, as part of an intimate networking event in Sydney. In association with Hardys Wines, over 50 members of the drinks industry were invited to mingle with the Australian cricket legend for an evening and learn about his partnership with the South Australian, family-owned wine brand. FIDI is an initiative run by publisher of drinks trade, Hip Media, set up over two years ago to provide more networking opportunities for those in drinks and hospitality. McGrath became the official Hardys cricket ambassador in the summer of 2014, and over the last two years has been responsible for representing and promoting the brand’s wines around the world through Cricket Australia.
The partnership represents one of the largest and longest sponsorship agreements between an Australian wine brand and sporting star, and its success is measured today on the association many have of the two icons.
LEFT: Glenn McGrath with Archie Rose bar staff
TASMANIAN CIDER PRODUCERS GET READY FOR MID-WINTER FEST
The Huon Valley Mid-Winter Fest is set to return for its third year this July, running between Friday 15–Sunday 17. Over the three days, festival goers and local cider producers will celebrate the history of Tasmania’s ‘apple valley’ by re-enacting pagan traditions used in the cider producing regions of south-west England. The festival will be located at The Apple Shed in the Huon Valley. Tickets can be purchased online at www.huonvalleymidwinterfest.com.au
APPLICATIONS OPEN TO THE WINE TASMANIA TRADE EXCURSION
Trade are currently being invited to apply to this year’s Wine Tasmania visitation program, which will be held in June on Sunday 26 and Monday 27. The program is open to ten wine trade representatives and will provide selected participants with the opportunity to explore Tasmania’s local wineries. The two day immersive trip will also give participants the chance to visit a number of local food, cider and whisky producers. Applications must be submitted by 13 May and successful participants will be announced before Monday 23 May. Apply here: www.surveygizmo.com/ s3/2670422/2016-Wine-Trade-VisitationProgram
SIMON FORD TALKS SHOPPER MARKETING AT NETWORK BREAKFAST
Simon Ford from Shopper Tracker spoke to over 200 people in March at the drinks association Network Breakfast. Hosted at the SCG, Simon focused on the importance of shopper marketing and brand decision-making to retailer and consumer satisfaction. “It’s solution retailing, not product retailing; that’s getting into the mind of the shopper, understanding their needs and becoming a destination for them,” said Simon. Simon suggests, “maximizing investment by understanding the categories and segments of the brand that will most likely give you the most bang for your buck and then going to a retailer that is most likely to align with that.” According to Simon, margin and retailer loyalty are also influenced by brand name. Simon also shared that premiumisation is occurring where people are less flexible in their choice of retailer - categories such as red wine, Champagne and cider. In order to move away from this commonality, Simon stated that there is a strong need to, “identify and segregate value from premium and build a portfolio around that.” The drinks association will host its next Network Breakfast on May 18 at the SCG, with Chief Economist of National Australia Bank (NAB), Ivan Colhoun. For more details, visit www.drinkscentral.com.au
