Vinexpo America and Drinks America a Success!

With a goal to reunite the global beverage alcohol industry and foster a return to business as usual, Vinexpo America and Drinks America took place in New York on March 9-10.  

More than 380 exhibitors representing the products of 30 countries had taken advantage of what are now North America’s premier trade-only expo. 

 

Held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, the programs drew wine and spirits industry professionals from around the world, with key buyers and decision makers from 42 states plus Washington, D.C., Canada, and Mexico. All discovered new products, learned about important trends, and reconnected with their commercial networks. 

 

“The pent-up demand for in-person connections has been palpable,” says Beckie Kier, Diversified Communications’ group event director for Vinexpo America and Drinks America. 

 

One noteworthy trend that pervaded multiple discussions: the accelerated move to online ordering since the beginning of the pandemic. Drizly Chief Operating Office, Cathy Lewenberg notes “Less than two percent of off-premise sales were going through digital channels as we headed into 2020; now its 67%.” 

At the event, master classes offered in-depth tasting sessions for products around the world, spotlighting Japanese alcohol, wines of France, Czech Republic and Chile, and concluded with a Riedel Wine glass seminar. 

 

“There’s a lot of enthusiasm. People are happy to meet suppliers and clients and to make deals,” explains Olivier Kielwasser, category lead for BevMo! wine. “This is the one venue on the East Coast where you can come once a year, and in two days find all these wines that would otherwise take six months. It saves you a lot of time.” 

“At the beginning of the project we were expecting 40 French exhibitors and today we have over 60 exhibitors. This is a very important event for them to connect with importers and distributors,” said Sandrine Krummenacher, Manager of French Pavilions for Business France, which led a contingency to New York to support exporting opportunities in North America. 

 

“I’m glad to be here because it’s my first fair after the pandemic. I love the profile of the professionals that have been here, and I already have a least two new contracts,” says sommelier and aromas specialist, François Chartier.  

 

Vinexpo America and Drinks America will return to New York’s Javits Center March 8-9, 2023.