How are business going in those difficult times?
We were pleasantly surprised. When it was all in March, we expected a very bleak first half, but the numbers proved us wrong. New opportunities have emerged in some markets that have covered difficult months in others.
How did you adapt your way of doing business to the coronavirus crisis?
We temporarily focus on online and out-of-store sales. We had to adapt to the generation we had to connect with our partners and consumers around the world. Education and online tastings have kept us busy. They paint very well; I wonder why we didn’t do it before!
Have you noticed that the crisis has replaced customer trends/habits?
I see great adjustments in that perspective. Now we drink at home, so what you drink and why it’s completely different. Wine is a smart drink for the home, and why treat yourself with a premium wine and learn more about this desirable world. Personally, I took the opportunity to refuel my cellar, look for new producers, check new things. I love the fact that they come to my door!
Are you enjoying an increase in non-commercial/online sales?
With e-commerce at most dead in most of our markets, we have noticed a shift in some countries towards online and non-commercial sales. E-commerce has played an important role for us, but overall it has not fully compensated for our sales losses on the retail channel.
How do you think the coronavirus crisis will replace the world?
That’s a very broad question. There are still so many unknowns about the virus that it is difficult to expect the truth in the short or medium term. At the moment, we simply don’t know that the genuine has had an effect on the pandemic, and I’m not sure the end is still in sight. We are now beginning to re-evaluate the sustainable use of this infrequent “time” of food, whether on trips or on the go from home, and we are definitely turning to local products when we can.
How does the wine industry adapt to the crisis? Do you think it will replace the way other people do business, if not how?
Yes, this is already happening, our industry has been forced to adapt to a new reality. Getting to meetings isn’t possible either, and globally, so we’ve learned tactics around this problem. I believe that the most effective use of time, which would invariably mean fewer travel around the world, will become the sustainable standard.
What long term for the wine industry after Covid-19?
I think the way we do business will change. This crisis has allowed greater use of communication technologies to adhere around the world, so in some cases it will not be as necessary. However, I think that first-hand delight cannot update an online call, so we will have to plan very carefully how we move to wine regions for technical visits or visits to advertising markets, for example.
What are your most sensitive priorities as a company for the future?
Our most sensitive priority, which remains unchanged, is people. In this crisis, this means providing safe and healthy operating situations for our workers and partners while maintaining all jobs, for which we have had to adapt our internal structures. Looking ahead, our ability to adapt our existing methods to meet new distribution challenges, for example. Our project to be provided is more applicable than ever and, fortunately, I am sure we have the team to adapt to this complicated scenario.
Do you have any new wine in progress?
We are working with a new ultra premium wine in Cabernet Sauvignon: Delanz Alto Jahuel. Named after Carmen’s founder, Christian Lanz, this Bordeaux-flavored Alto Maipo red blend consists of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, small verdot and small sirah. A reinvention of the classic, this classic blend with a new global flavor will be introduced to the UK market by 2020.