Vinexpo Bordeaux targets e-commerce

Vinexpo Bordeaux is targetting buyers in e-commerce and travel retail as well as those from China, the US, Northern Europe and Africa as it gears up for next year’s show.

Using an initiative called the ‘Hosted Buyers Program’, Vinexpo hopes to draw the key buyers in e-commerce

During a meeting with the drinks business in Bordeaux last month, Vinexpo CEO Guillaume Deglise said that Vinexpo 2017 hoped to attract “new buyers” with a specific focus on those who purchase wine for online businesses, among other expanding areas for drinks, such as travel retail.

Deglise said that the show organisers would be sponsoring such people’s travel to the show, and accommodation during it, because e-commerce was a fast-growing sector of the wine business.

He also told db that Vinexpo was targeting buyers from growth markets China and the US, as well as those from Northern Europe, whom he admitted, had not turned out in such force at Vinexpo Bordeaux 2015 – a development that is likely to be connected with the growth of ProWein, which is held in Germany in March each year.

Among other areas of focus, Deglise also said that he was planning to attract more buyers from Africa, noting that it was a growing market for wine, and one with “close links to Bordeaux”.

He also remarked that he was putting more emphasis on the “content” of the fair this year, having made many improvements to the layout of the exhibition, as well as logistics, in time for the last edition of the Bordeaux show.

As part of this, there will be four new features to this year’s fair, which are outlined below:

1. The ‘Hosted Buyers Program’, which is an initiative designed to draw the key buyers in e-commerce, travel retail, and the off- and on-trade. Vinexpo will offer to host as many as 200 new international buyers, requiring they participate in at least four One-to-Wine Meetings each day – aspecial service that launched in Vinexpo Bordeaux 2015 to facilitate appointments between exhibitors and buyers.

2. WOW!, or World of Organic Wine, which is an exhibition space dedicated to organic and biodynamic wines.

3. A focus on Riesling, including a pair of tastings dedicated to the variety on June 20.

4. Two new pavilions focusing on wine growers and niche wines.

Meanwhile, Spain will take the spotlight as Vinexpo’s Country of Honour – a show feature that also began in 2015. A ‘Taste of Spain’ will present 100 of the best Spanish wineries, selected by Wine Spectator.

Returning in 2017 will be The Blend networking party; as well as Les Terrasses, which is an indoor-outdoor exhibition space showcasing a dozen major wine and spirits brands; along with L’Atelier Food & Wine – a series of pairing demonstrations featuring top chefs and leading sommeliers.

Vinexpo Bordeaux 2017 will be held June 18-21 at Parc des Expositions, and marks the nineteenth show held in the city by the exhibition organiser.