Treasury Wine Estates is midway through implementing a new distribution model under which customers will no longer be able to order wines directly from the company.
Orders will now be fulfilled through wholesalers, which a company spokesperson told drinks bulletin is “part of a broader strategy to continually drive improvements in business performance”.
“We can confirm that this new model will not impact the level of service our sales team provide to our customers,” she said.
“The change will reduce complexity in TWE’s supply chain in Australia, making it easier and more efficient for customers to access our wines and enabling TWE to focus on the core areas of marketing, brand building, sales and winemaking.”
The new model builds on TWE’s existing relationships with a range of wholesalers, both national and state-based.
It’s a separate initiative to the supply chain optimisation announced on October 6, when TWE declared its commitment to ”simplifying and optimising logistics”.
The company anticipates the distribution changes will be completed by the end of February 2016.
“We have been pleased with the response we’ve received from customers to date,and appreciate how they have embraced the change,” the spokesperson said.
“As we work through the transition process, there may be an impact to a small number of office-based roles, however it is too early to make specific comment on this.”
