Global Wine & Spirits, the Canada-based e-business network for the drinks trade, has reported that transactions during its second year of operation topped 23.3 million bottles, an increase of 191 per cent over the volume of 8 million bottles posted in the first year.
During the third and fourth quarters, the volume of calls for tenders exceeded that of the total for the first six quarters by 198 per cent, the company claimed, adding that since the launch of GWS, professional buyers have launched calls for tenders for roughly 15 million bottles (Asia 18 per cent, America 7 per cent and Europe 75 per cent).
Total membership more than tripled during the second year, reaching 1,650 wine/spirits companies. Buyers' membership increased tenfold, from 70 in March 2002 to more than 750 wine importers from 43 countries in March 2003. Sellers' membership grew by 75 per cent to more than 800. Wine agencies make up for the remaining 100 or so members. The total number of products available to wine importers in the e-catalogue reached 5,000.
"The overwhelming marketing advantages offered by Global Wine & Spirits to wine and spirits producers and exporters have been echoed in the phenomenal increase in buyers' activity on our network," said Robert Bonneau, chief operating officer of Global Wine & Spirits.
"More and more, wine producers and exporters are seeing our network as a tremendously powerful marketing, contact and business tool to propose and sell products to importers around the world. And our services are more affordable than any other type of global visibility solution," Bonneau claimed.