Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • Cettire Net Loss Widens to $8.5 Million as US Tariffs Hit Sales

    Cettire Net Loss Widens to $8.5 Million as US Tariffs Hit Sales

    Australian luxury platform Cettire posted an annual net loss of $8.5 million for the year ended June 30, more than trebling its deficit from a year earlier.

    The loss widened from $2.6 million in the previous financial year as sales revenue dropped 3.2 per cent to $718.4 million. Gross revenue fell 2 per cent, though it posted a small gain when measured on a constant currency basis.

    Tariff Friction and Middle East Disruption

    Active customer numbers fell 8 per cent to 605,000 during the twelve-month period. Management attributed the decline to weaker demand in the United States and a deliberate cut in paid marketing expenditure.

    The platform ran into direct regulatory friction in its largest market after US authorities removed the de minimis import duty exemption. In the second half of the financial year, consumer sentiment in high-growth Middle Eastern markets also weakened as regional conflict disrupted cross-border trade.

    During the period, US tariff changes, including the impact from the removal of the de minimis exemption, contributed to ongoing challenges in our largest market.

    Dean Mintz, founder and chief executive of Cettire, said US tariff refunds helped ease pressure late in the financial year.

    Momentum Outside North America

    Business outside the United States delivered better results, with sales revenue rising 14 per cent across the rest of the company’s geographic footprint. The expansion beyond North America cushioned the top-line decline and delivered market share gains across secondary regions.

    Pure-play luxury aggregators in Asia-Pacific have spent the past two years wrestling with excess inventory and fading post-pandemic demand. Cettire’s reliance on cross-border drop-shipping makes it unusually sensitive to customs thresholds, putting operational execution under scrutiny as border rules tighten.

    Attention now turns to trading updates in early fiscal 2027 to see whether the 14 per cent growth rate outside the US can offset lingering drag in North America.

  • More Japanese Merchants Leave Rakuten Marketplace over Drone Logistics Alliance

    More Japanese Merchants Leave Rakuten Marketplace over Drone Logistics Alliance

    Japanese merchants are leaving Rakuten Group’s e-commerce marketplace following the company’s latest drone logistics alliance. Seller departures have increased as platform operators adjust delivery requirements across the domestic network.

    Merchant relations on the platform face renewed strain over fulfillment and distribution integration. Store operators running storefronts on Rakuten Ichiba must balance rising platform costs against competing fulfillment channels.

    Merchant Friction Over Delivery Strategy

    The marketplace has pushed deeper into automated logistics and aerial transport to solve driver shortages in regional Japan. That shift requires store owners to adapt packaging, inventory management and dispatch schedules to automated logistics hubs.

    Sellers unwilling or unable to meet those fulfillment rules are closing their accounts. For smaller Japanese brands, direct-to-consumer websites and rival channels now offer cheaper operational alternatives.

    Pressure Across Japanese E-Commerce

    Competition among Japan’s digital marketplaces has tightened sharply. Amazon Japan and LY Corporation’s Yahoo Shopping continue to court independent merchants with flexible shipping terms and lower platform fees. Rakuten has spent heavily to defend its merchant base, yet policy shifts around shipping rates and fulfillment standards historically triggered seller pushback across the country.

    Merchant retention numbers for the current quarter will show how many storefronts follow through on closing their marketplace accounts.

  • Lovisa Lifts Full-Year Profit 10.7 per Cent as Network Reaches 1,136 Stores

    Lovisa Lifts Full-Year Profit 10.7 per Cent as Network Reaches 1,136 Stores

    Australian fast-fashion jewellery retailer Lovisa increased net profit after tax by 10.7 per cent to $95.6 million for the 2026 financial year.

    Total revenue rose 17.6 per cent to $938.8 million, supported by 160 store openings and a 2 per cent rise in global comparable store sales. Gross margin widened by 60 basis points to 82.6 per cent, helped by lower sourcing costs and tighter promotional spending, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation grew 20.9 per cent.

    Offshore sales outpace domestic trade

    Western markets delivered the bulk of the growth. Sales in the Americas rose 29.6 per cent, while European revenue increased 29.5 per cent over the twelve-month period.

    The company accelerated its physical expansion by launching 160 locations and shuttering 43 underperforming sites. That netted 117 additions and lifted the total footprint to 1,136 stores across more than 50 markets. Lovisa relies on small-format stores with low fitout costs to enter new territories quickly, a model that allows it to exit unprofitable leases without heavy capital losses.

    Early momentum in the new financial year

    Trading in early fiscal 2027 maintained that pace. Total sales climbed 16.4 per cent over the first eight weeks of the new financial year, with comparable store sales up 3 per cent and momentum accelerating through August.

    Management plans to add further physical and digital stores across both established and new territories. Investors will track whether store opening targets hold as the group rolls into additional franchise and company-owned markets in the first half.

  • Asia-Pacific Diaper Market to Reach $19.9 Billion as Pant Formats Gain

    Asia-Pacific Diaper Market to Reach $19.9 Billion as Pant Formats Gain

    The Asia-Pacific baby diaper market reached USD 11.3 billion in 2025, heading toward USD 19.9 billion by 2035. Revenue across the region will hit USD 12.1 billion in 2026, expanding at a 5.9 per cent annual compound rate over the ten-year period.

    Unicharm Corporation led the regional sector with more than 21 per cent market share in 2025. Together with Procter & Gamble, Hengan International Group, Kao Corporation, and Kimberly-Clark Corporation, the top five players controlled 58 per cent of total diaper revenue across Asia-Pacific.

    Shift to Pants and Digital Channels

    Taped diapers generated 52 per cent of sales in 2025, anchored by newborn demand and premium lines such as Pampers Premium Care and Huggies Platinum. Pant-style diapers accounted for the remaining 48 per cent. Rising demand for mobile infant formats will push pant diapers to 56 per cent of the total market by 2035, expanding at a 7.2 per cent annual rate.

    Digital storefronts captured 44.9 per cent of total regional revenue in 2025. Diaper sales through online platforms are climbing at 7.5 per cent annually, led by recurring orders on Tmall, JD.com, Flipkart, Lazada, and Shopee. High price transparency on these marketplaces is forcing brand owners to rely on bundle promotions and subscription models rather than standard shelf markups.

    Volume Split Between East and South Asia

    China remains the largest market by revenue, while India is expanding the fastest. Mature metropolitan markets in Japan, South Korea, and Tier-1 Chinese cities reward high-specification components, including multi-layer superabsorbent polymer cores, breathable backsheets, and wetness indicators. Suppliers in these markets face tighter environmental policy, including South Korean producer-responsibility rules and Japanese resource-circulation guidelines targeting nonwoven plastic waste.

    In contrast, revenue growth across India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines relies on converting households from cloth to disposable products. That conversion hits income ceilings in areas where household earnings stay below USD 5 per day. Sourcing volatility in polypropylene nonwovens and elastic attachments leaves little room for price increases in mass-market packs.

    Regional manufacturers are running split production lines to balance these distinct market demands. The strategy separates high-speed, cost-optimized conversion for Southeast Asian distribution networks from thin-core premium lines destined for East Asian e-commerce channels.

    Production economics now hinge on how fast producers adjust material formulations before municipal packaging and nonwoven waste rules take effect in Northeast Asian retail networks.

  • Indian Women Triple Gold ETF Holdings as Mutual Fund Assets Reach 15.88 Lakh Crore

    Indian Women Triple Gold ETF Holdings as Mutual Fund Assets Reach 15.88 Lakh Crore

    Women investors in India expanded their gold exchange-traded fund holdings to 16.4 percent of their passive portfolios in March 2026, up from 6.4 percent a year earlier. The reallocation accompanied a surge in total mutual fund assets managed by women to ₹15.88 lakh crore, up by ₹10.04 lakh crore over five years.

    Data from the AMFI-Crisil Factbook 2026 shows women accounted for 1.61 crore of India’s 6.09 crore mutual fund investors by March 2026. Gold ETF net inflows across the industry reached ₹0.69 lakh crore during fiscal 2026, more than double the combined ₹30,213 crore recorded across the preceding five financial years. Precious metal funds drew more fresh capital than equity ETFs during the period, driven by price rallies and global volatility.

    How Portfolios Shift Across Age Groups

    Asset allocation among female investors showed clear differences by age bracket. Investors under 25 directed 88.3 percent of their capital into equity funds, with 5.4 percent going to hybrid funds and 2.1 percent to debt. In the 25 to 44 age bracket, equity allocations stood at 76.2 percent, while passive funds took 6.6 percent.

    Older demographics moved toward income stability. Women aged 45 to 58 allocated 64.8 percent to equities and 20.1 percent to hybrid funds. Investors above 58 lowered equity exposure to 51.2 percent while raising hybrid assets to 29.6 percent and debt holdings to 12.0 percent.

    Folio Sizes and Hedging Strategies

    The turn toward precious metals reflects a broader shift across Indian retail finance, where digital distribution and systematic investment plans have converted traditional jewellery buyers into paper commodity holders. Retail investors overall saw gold ETF assets rise to 14.9 percent of their passive portfolios in fiscal 2026, up from 4.6 percent in fiscal 2021.

    Average folio sizes for women tracked higher than those of men in March 2024 and March 2025 before reaching parity at the end of fiscal 2026. The next indicator will be whether gold inflows sustain their share against monthly domestic equity systematic investment plans running above ₹30,000 crore.

  • Gamers Clear Inventory for Quake Hit Kumamoto Brewery Tsujun Shuzo

    Gamers Clear Inventory for Quake Hit Kumamoto Brewery Tsujun Shuzo

    Tsujun Shuzo sold out its online inventory of Hotarumaru sake in August after fans of the video game Touken Ranbu placed orders for roughly 600 bottles. The emergency direct-to-consumer surge cleared backlogged stock after a July 28 earthquake halted wholesale shipments and dropped monthly sales of its flagship brew from 1,000 bottles to 120.

    The 256-year-old brewery, located in Yamato in Kumamoto Prefecture, suffered no direct structural damage from the tremor, which reached the maximum seismic intensity of 7 in parts of the prefecture. Commercial demand dried up immediately. Wholesalers stopped buying as tourism halted and regional consumers pulled back on discretionary drinking, while the brewery’s on-site cafe logged cancellations for about 500 guests.

    Wholesale Freezes and Online Surges

    Twelfth-generation owner Yasuo Yamashita, 63, posted on social media platform X in mid-August that bottles of its core junmai ginjo brand, Semi, were stranded in the storehouse. The plea caught the attention of Touken Ranbu players because Tsujun Shuzo also brews Hotarumaru, a junmai ginjo named after a historic Japanese sword that features as a character in the franchise.

    Gamers responded by clearing the brewery’s digital storefront, purchasing between 500 and 600 bottles of Hotarumaru within days. Staff packed each delivery with a printed letter acknowledging that customer orders had freed inventory with nowhere else to go.

    Pop Culture Ties Cushion Regional F&B

    Subculture collaborations and character licensing have become critical safety valves for traditional Japanese food and beverage producers facing shrinking domestic consumption. When local wholesale channels freeze during natural disasters, established pop culture ties give regional craft producers an immediate route to national retail demand without intermediary distributor costs.

    Tsujun Shuzo is now working through its packaging backlog and restocking its online store while monitoring regional wholesale accounts as Kumamoto’s hospitality and restaurant sectors reopen.

  • CES Asia Unveiled Expands to Seoul in Partnership with KES

    CES Asia Unveiled Expands to Seoul in Partnership with KES

    CES Asia Unveiled is expanding into Seoul through a formal partnership with the Korea Electronics Show. The tie-up connects the regional preview platform directly with South Korea’s primary trade gathering for consumer electronics, appliance manufacturers and component suppliers.

    Organisers designed the Seoul event to give domestic tech makers, retail buyers and international media an early look at product launches ahead of the main global exhibitions. South Korean conglomerates and hardware startups will gain a dedicated stage to demonstrate consumer hardware, artificial intelligence applications and smart home devices to regional distributors.

    Bringing Preview Formats to South Korea

    The Seoul expansion reflects South Korea’s position as a dominant exporter of consumer electronics and display technologies. By collaborating with the Korea Electronics Show, the platform integrates local exhibition infrastructure with international brand networks that typically anchor large-format consumer technology shows across Asia.

    Participating companies will present products across smart appliances, mobility solutions, gaming hardware and personal devices. The format focuses on direct business matchmaking, pairing device manufacturers with Asian retail operators, ecommerce platform buyers and regional supply chain partners seeking early product inventory.

    Regional Competition in Consumer Electronics

    Trade event organisers across the Asia-Pacific region continue to adjust their calendars to secure hardware debuts from top tier manufacturers. While previous editions of regional technology shows concentrated heavily in Shanghai and Tokyo, trade bodies are increasingly setting up multi-city formats across key consumer markets in Northeast Asia.

    For South Korean electronics suppliers and regional distributors, the joint event provides immediate access to product roadmaps without requiring travel outside the domestic market. Registration timelines and exhibition schedules for the joint Seoul show will open through official trade channels as participating brands finalize their regional product lineups.

  • Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Expands to Vietnam Through Asset Management Joint Venture

    Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Expands to Vietnam Through Asset Management Joint Venture

    Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group will enter Vietnam’s asset management sector by forming a joint venture with a state-owned bank to capture shifting retail investment flows.

    The Tokyo-based financial group plans to launch the venture as early as next year. The partnership targets domestic household wealth as rising personal incomes push savers beyond cash deposits, real estate, and physical gold.

    Targeting Vietnam’s Retail Capital

    Vietnamese households hold the bulk of their personal assets in traditional savings accounts, bullion, and property. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust expects growing affluence across the country to accelerate demand for mutual funds, equities, and fixed-income products.

    The joint venture will use the state bank’s branch reach and domestic client network to distribute investment vehicles. Japanese asset managers have increasingly looked abroad to deploy capital expertise as Southeast Asian economies expand their domestic financial markets.

    Japanese Lenders Push Into Southeast Asia

    Japanese financial groups continue to seek fee-generating asset management businesses across ASEAN to offset low domestic loan margins. Vietnam remains a focal point for institutional capital because of sustained factory investment and urban wage growth.

    Regulatory approval for the joint venture and the final equity structure between the two banking institutions will dictate the official rollout date next year.

  • Chinese Automakers Surge Overseas as Domestic EV Sales Slip in July

    Chinese Automakers Surge Overseas as Domestic EV Sales Slip in July

    Chinese electric vehicle exports jumped 147.8 per cent year on year in July, helping carmakers cushion a 5 per cent sales drop in their home market. Total domestic EV deliveries slipped to 980,000 units during the month, while global electrified vehicle sales rose 9 per cent to 1.85 million units.

    Total Chinese auto exports reached 923,000 vehicles in July, up 88.2 per cent. At home, overall car sales slid 21.1 per cent to 1.47 million units, extending a ten-month contraction across mainland dealerships. During the first half of the year, domestic vehicle sales fell by 2.3 million units, a 20 per cent decline.

    BYD and the European Push

    BYD illustrates the shift. The Shenzhen-based manufacturer saw domestic sales fall 35 per cent during the first seven months of the year, yet its overseas deliveries jumped 79 per cent. Brazil and Britain have become BYD’s two largest markets outside China this year.

    Mainland brands now account for nearly a quarter of all EV shipments into Europe. In July, European EV demand expanded 33 per cent to 450,000 units, supported by incentives in Spain, Germany, France and Britain. Several Chinese manufacturers are now moving beyond direct shipments to construct assembly plants across the continent.

    Tariff Headwinds and Emerging Markets

    Demand outside the major western economies expanded faster. In markets across Southeast Asia, Latin America and parts of Asia outside China, EV sales rose 96 per cent through July to 1.7 million units, according to the International Energy Agency.

    North America moved in the opposite direction. EV sales across the region dropped 27 per cent in July to 140,000 units after the United States ended federal tax credits in September 2025. In Mexico, Chinese brands captured 17 per cent of new car sales in the first half, selling 137,525 vehicles, even after Mexico imposed a 50 per cent tariff on Chinese auto imports on January 1.

    Regional manufacturers now face tighter margins as price competition at home forces them to secure port capacity and local factory sites across Europe and Southeast Asia before trade barriers rise further.

  • Puma Relocates and Expands Flagship Store at VivoCity Singapore

    Puma Relocates and Expands Flagship Store at VivoCity Singapore

    Puma has opened its renovated flagship store at VivoCity in Singapore. The label shifted operations to a larger space on the mall’s ground level.

    Trading previously took place on level two. The new location sits on level one to capture heavier shopper traffic.

    Floor shift and category layout

    The expanded store houses the brand’s footwear, apparel, and accessories across distinct sections. Key product zones show running, training, team sports, and motorsports merchandise.

    “VivoCity is an important retail destination in Singapore, and this new flagship allows us to bring the full breadth of Puma to consumers in a more engaging and accessible way,” said Sanjay Roy, managing director of Puma Southeast Asia and Oceania.

    Sportswear footprint in regional malls

    Sports brands across Southeast Asia continue upgrading mall tenancies from upper levels to prime ground-floor units. The strategy targets casual lifestyle buyers alongside performance athletes. RetailNews Asia has observed similar moves across core retail nodes in Singapore, where flagship expansions anchor marketing and broader wholesale distribution.

    At VivoCity, the store is now fully operational with the brand’s complete seasonal line-up ahead of the final quarter retail cycle.

  • Panpuri Opens First Mainland China Store in Shanghai in 16-Outlet Asian Push

    Panpuri Opens First Mainland China Store in Shanghai in 16-Outlet Asian Push

    Thai niche fragrance brand Panpuri opened its first Mainland China store at Shanghai’s HKRI Taikoo Hui shopping centre, anchoring a 16-store regional expansion across Asia this year.

    The Bangkok-based label is entering high-end retail developments in China and Japan to build scale outside Southeast Asia. At the Shanghai boutique, Panpuri is selling its full range of perfumes, home ambience goods and body care products, supported by custom fragrance blending and bespoke gift-wrapping stations.

    Expanding From Shanghai to Tokyo

    Thai entrepreneur Vorravit Siripark founded the business in 2003, pairing traditional Thai herbal and oil treatments with modern skincare formulations. The Shanghai debut follows an Asian expansion plan outlined in May that aims to establish footprint in prime shopping destinations.

    In China, Panpuri is focusing its initial store pipeline on Shanghai and Beijing. In Japan, the company plans to launch its first boutique in Tokyo before adding locations across other major metropolitan areas.

    Southeast Asian beauty and wellness operators have increasingly looked north to East Asian department stores and malls, where consumer spending on niche perfumery and premium personal care remains resilient. Entering prime properties such as Swire Properties’ HKRI Taikoo Hui places the Thai label in direct competition with established European and domestic Chinese fragrance houses fighting for department-store foot traffic.

    Targeting Top-Tier Asian Capitals

    Siripark stated that shoppers in both Japan and China place heavy value on product craftsmanship, atmospheric retail design and emotional brand resonance, making them natural priorities for international growth.

    Attention now turns to the delivery of the remaining pipeline locations across Beijing and Tokyo as the brand works to complete its 16-store regional target before year-end.

  • European Luxury Houses See China Rebound as Burberry Sales Climb 9%

    European Luxury Houses See China Rebound as Burberry Sales Climb 9%

    European luxury groups are tracking a tentative rebound across mainland China, led by high-net-worth spending and demand for premium beauty and apparel.

    July retail sales across the country’s top 25 luxury labels dropped more than 10 percent under tighter scrutiny on offshore wealth, but corporate earnings forecasts point to an autumn turnaround. Household spending on cosmetics has begun to stabilize, while quarterly reports from fashion houses reveal pockets of early momentum.

    Divergence Across Brands

    Burberry Group posted a 9 percent increase in Greater China retail sales during its latest quarter, helped by younger shoppers and localized campaigns. The British fashion house partnered with Chinese National Geography magazine on documentary marketing to lift brand engagement among Gen Z consumers.

    Gucci parent Kering expects sales in the region to return to positive growth by the fourth quarter of 2026. Chief Executive Luca de Meo called the country a strategic priority as trading conditions improved steadily through the latest reporting period.

    LVMH reported steadying demand in mainland stores, citing improving figures for its Sephora retail chain and cognac labels. Swiss group Richemont captured higher tourist spending across Hong Kong and Macau, while Moncler gained ground in market niches.

    Uneven Recovery Profile

    The rebound remains concentrated among high-net-worth buyers rather than broad middle-income households. That divide keeps the pace uneven across retail categories and price points.

    Hermes continues to accelerate sales in the region, while Danish jeweler Pandora is seeing sales declines narrow. For retail operators across Asia, the test will be whether luxury spending broadens beyond top-tier VIP clients before fourth-quarter results land.

  • Louis Vuitton to Close Guiyang Store as Southwest China Footprint Shrinks

    Louis Vuitton to Close Guiyang Store as Southwest China Footprint Shrinks

    Louis Vuitton will close its only store in Guiyang on August 31, cutting its footprint in southwestern China to three locations.

    The retreat brings the French luxury house down from a peak of six stores across the southwestern region.

    An on-site notice confirmed the pending exit in the capital of Guizhou province. The closure follows a wider review of the brand’s network across mainland China, where consumer spending on luxury goods has softened and purchasing habits continue to evolve.

    Network cuts in the southwest

    Trimming regional outposts allows luxury operators to protect margins while focusing resources on premier flagship locations in tier-one hubs. Southwestern provincial capitals once served as key targets for European brands seeking newly affluent shoppers outside Beijing and Shanghai. That rapid retail buildout has steadily unwound across secondary hubs as consumer footfall and basket sizes contract.

    Legal pushback and consumer sentiment

    The network changes coincide with active trademark enforcement in mainland courts. In July, Chinese beverage chain Molly Tea was ordered to pay Louis Vuitton 10.3 million yuan ($1.5 million) over the use of a similar logo. While the court ruled in favour of the luxury brand, the verdict generated public sympathy for the domestic drinks company across Chinese social platforms.

    S&P Global Ratings director Sandy Lim noted that while immediate sales effects from the dispute are limited, brand perception among younger buyers requires attention. Lim stated that this emerging consumer group prioritises cultural respect alongside prestige when selecting brands.

    Operations at the Guiyang store cease on August 31, leaving three operational sites in the southwestern provinces as luxury houses track autumn demand trends.

  • Pakistan Hires Wood Mackenzie to Study Strategic Fuel Reserves

    Pakistan Hires Wood Mackenzie to Study Strategic Fuel Reserves

    Pakistan launched a feasibility study with energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie in Islamabad on August 25 to develop the country’s first strategic petroleum reserves. The UK-based advisory firm won the mandate against three competing bids to evaluate options for crude and refined product storage across the country.

    Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik chaired the kick-off meeting with Wood Mackenzie executives, including Vice President Christopher Darry and Senior Vice President Aamir Malik. Representatives from Attock Refinery Limited, Pakistan LNG Limited, Government Holdings (Private) Limited, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, and the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics also joined the session.

    Scope of the storage plan

    Wood Mackenzie will assess existing industrial infrastructure, logistics networks, and potential sites for dedicated storage facilities. The assignment covers technical integrity, safety standards, regional benchmarks, and capital expenditure estimates for a phased rollout.

    Consultants will also map legal, financial, and regulatory frameworks, evaluating public-private partnership models to fund construction. The advisory team noted that shifting global energy dynamics make this the right moment for Islamabad to secure long-term physical fuel buffers.

    Supply risks and bonded terminals

    Pakistan currently holds no strategic crude reserves, leaving domestic transport networks and industrial supply chains vulnerable to tanker traffic disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed petroleum authorities in July to expedite reserve capacity alongside updates to the national oil refining policy.

    For consumer goods distributors, freight fleets, and retailers across South Asia, fuel availability dictates baseline operating margins. Unhedged supply bottlenecks in emerging markets quickly translate into freight surcharges and shelf-price inflation when international shipping lanes face sudden friction.

    The government recently approved rules allowing international fuel traders to construct bonded storage facilities at their own expense for domestic distribution and re-export. Malik directed state bodies to share operational data with Wood Mackenzie, while a newly formed steering committee will monitor study milestones ahead of final policy submissions.

  • Champagne Bureau Australia Launches Education Prize for Wine Retailers

    Champagne Bureau Australia Launches Education Prize for Wine Retailers

    Champagne Bureau Australia has launched the Champagne Education Prize for early-career hospitality and fine wine retail staff. Australia ranks as the world’s seventh-largest Champagne export market.

    The training scheme targets frontline workers. It combines technical category study with direct travel to France.

    Focus on frontline wine sellers

    Organisers view sommeliers, bartenders and fine wine retail employees as the primary channel for introducing Australian consumers to the category. The program aims to deepen their technical knowledge through direct interaction with shoppers and restaurant diners.

    Selected participants will travel directly to the Champagne region for on-the-ground study.

    Australia holds seventh place globally

    Sustaining demand across Asia-Pacific liquor retail channels relies heavily on trade education. Premium wine distributors face stiff competition from domestic sparkling producers for shelf space and wine list placements.

    Intake dates and selection details for the inaugural cohort will determine when the first group of Australian trade professionals heads overseas.