Janine Williams

Via Pacifica’s CEO on wine quality, retail partnerships, and industry shifts. Private label wines are no longer just about budget-friendly alternatives on retail shelves—they have become a serious player in the U.S. wine market, often rivaling established brands in quality and reputation. Via Pacifica US is a company that has built its success not by simply supplying wine but by partnering actively with retailers, hospitality groups, and importers to create tailored, high-quality private label programs. Cristobal Fernandez, CEO of Via Pacifica US  brings over 15 years of experience in international wine markets. His approach is refreshingly pragmatic: treat private labels with the same care as owned brands, embrace flexibility, and focus on long-term relationships over quick wins. In this conversation, Fernandez shares his insights on the evolving private label market, the challenges of distribution, and the key trends shaping the industry’s future. Full interview on International Bulk Wine & Spirits Show, SF (IBWSS) here: https://lnkd.in/d_Hv_hZG

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Most beverage brands don’t fail on flavor. They stall in the middle. Welcome to DrinkUP Podcast weekend addition with Robert Cogan Right now, Cog's is seeing three partnerships quietly rewrite how brands go national 👇 • Darwin Fulfillment, cutting the cost and friction of nationwide delivery • Pacific Candy Wholesale, launching a health & wellness division that skips the usual retail gatekeepers • Sober Market. expanding straight into Walmart Canada locations Here’s the real insight most founders miss: Every beverage business lives or dies in three stages 1. Production 2. Distribution 3. Off-shelf sales Most brands get stuck in the catch 22: “You need distribution to sell… but you need sales to earn distribution.” These partnerships break that loop. They remove friction, shorten timelines, and let brands focus on velocity, not just placement. The future of scaling isn’t louder marketing. It’s smarter infrastructure. Thanks for the weekend insight Robert Cogan! Truthfully, Sam #beverageindustry #brandbuilding #distribution #founders #cpggrowth #nationaldistribution

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🚨 New High Functioning Podcast episode drops tomorrow, at 11AM EST 🚨 In this clip, Julio Vasquez explains how menus are structured and why matching product quality to price point is everything. A customer knows when value products are priced like top shelf, and that disconnect destroys trust. If you want to stay on the menu, alignment matters more than hype. ➡️ Episode goes live Friday, Sep 5th at 11 AM EST 👇 Links and more are in the comments.

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If you think one meeting is all it takes to get your product on a menu...think again. One of my favorite takeaways from Kristi Kristi McGill's chat with Velvet Taco's Chef V was, “Patience is everything.” Simple, but so true especially in this industry. 👉 Culinary teams aren’t just sourcing ingredients, they’re looking for true partners. 👉 Strong relationships aren’t built in a single call. 👉 A respectful “not yet” today could become a “yes” tomorrow. The fastest path to the menu isn’t the hard sell, it’s building real trust.

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“Busy doesn’t mean profitable anymore—profit per cover does.” 📉👨‍🍳 We recently heard a top chef drop this truth bomb, and in the landscape of 2026, it is the only metric that matters. For decades, the goal was simple: Fill the room. If the reservation book was full, the business was safe. Not anymore. With rising ingredient costs and labor regulations, volume without precision is a trap. If your cost control isn't airtight, a busy night just means you are losing money faster. This is the "High-End Paradox": Chasing accolades like a Michelin star might bring you 25% more revenue through visibility. But the cost of that perfection—extra staff, premium sourcing, waste can easily wipe out 25% of your profit. We have entered the era of Precision Dining. The best chefs today aren't just artists; they are ruthless operational managers. How are you shifting your focus from "Volume" to "Value" per seat? Let’s discuss the strategies below. 👇 #RestaurantProfitability #FineDiningBusiness #ProfitPerCover #KitchenManagement #ChefLife #HospitalityTrends #ROA

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🍷 Your wine is great. Your marketing? It’s stuck in 2015. Let’s be honest: The wine industry is notoriously slow to change. We lean on "romance," "heritage," and "rolling hills." But in 2026, those aren't enough to drive a business. To win today, you have to optimize for two very different audiences: **Human palates and AI algorithms.** Here is how the 2026 Content Marketing Funnel actually looks for the drinks industry: **1. Awareness: AI is the new Sommelier 🤖** If an AI search engine wouldn't recommend your bottle when someone asks for a "sustainable red for a spicy dinner," you don't exist. * **The Pivot:** Move from generic SEO to **AEO (Answer Engine Optimization). ** Publish founder-led, high-POV content. AI surfaces *authority*, not just keywords. Share your "hot takes" on the industry to earn that digital attention. **2. Consideration: Stop gatekeeping expertise 🎓** The 2026 consumer doesn't want a 40-page technical sheet; they want a "cheat sheet" they can use to look smart at a dinner party. * **The Pivot:** Build comparison guides and educational posts that actually mention your competitors. If you don't help them compare, Reddit will do it for you—and they won't be as polite. **3. Intent: Capture the signal, not just the click 🎯** Buying wine online shouldn't feel like filling out a tax return. * **The Pivot:** Use interactive tools. A "Palate Quiz" that surfaces a personalized 6-pack isn't just a gimmick—it’s a high-intent data mine. Showcase your proof with structured data so AI can cite you as a trusted source. **4. Conversion: Personalize or Perish 💸** Sending the same "Spring Release" email to a Gen Z natural wine fan and a traditional Bordeaux collector is marketing malpractice. * **The Pivot:** Use behavioral signals to personalize your CTAs. If a customer only buys your Rosé, stop hitting them with "15% off Big Reds." Use AI to test landing page variants that speak directly to the individual’s buying habits. **5. Loyalty: Your "Wine Club" is a dinosaur 🦕** Most wine clubs are just "subscriptions for people who forget to cancel." In 2026, loyalty is a **loop**, not a list. * **The Pivot:** Build community-led growth. Use Discord or private hubs for your top 1%. Use predictive AI to spot "churn signals" before a member leaves. Make them feel like an insider, not just a subscriber. **The Bottom Line:** The "romance" of wine will always exist, but the way we sell it has been digitized. You can either be the brand that AI recommends and humans trust, or the brand that ends up in the "Closeout" bin because no one knew you existed. It’s 2026. Is your funnel ready, or are you still printing brochures? 🚀 👇 **I’m curious—what’s the one piece of "traditional" wine marketing you think needs to retire for good? Let’s get into it in the comments.** 🔥 Like my content? 💼 Follow me on LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/e8_2WdrY https://lnkd.in/dBHNpxW7 https://lnkd.in/dTzgXppx

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