Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/543749
Key Indicators B arefoot wines from E. & J. Gallo Winery continued to lead all other brands in off-premise sales during the past 52 weeks, as measured by IRI, the Chicago, Ill.- based market-research firm. Barefoot's dollar growth was 5% and volume growth was 7% in the multiple-outlet and convenience stores that IRI measures nationwide. Barefoot increased its lead on the No. 2 brand, Sutter Home by Trinchero Family Es- tates, which shrank 2% in sales and 3% in volume in the off-premise sector. The average price for Barefoot decreased by 8 cents per bottle, while Sutter Home's average bottle price rose 2 cents. Franzia box wines were No. 3 with flat sales growth and a 5% volume decline, and Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi was No. 4 with a 4% increase in sales and 5% volume growth. The only import in the top 20, Yellow Tail from Australia, kept its No. 5 position while dropping by single digits in both sales and volume. Newcomers in the Top 20 list since Wines & Vines last published it in July 2013 were 14 Hands and Apothic. The two brands that dropped off the list were La Crema and Peter Vella box wines. Both Constellation Brands and E. & J. Gallo earned five spots in the top 20 for their brands. Gallo's collective sales beat Constellation's by about 50%, and each had one brand with simi- lar sales growing by double digits: Apothic for Gallo and Black Box for Constellation. Woodinville, Wash.-based Ste. Michelle Wine Estates placed two fast-growing brands in the top 20: Chateau Michelle grew by 12% in both sales and volume, while the newer 14 Hands increased by 17% in both areas. These brands were also the second and third highest in average bottle price, topped only by Kendall Jackson Vintner's Reserve. Trinchero, however, had the fastest growing T he Winery Job Index in June jumped 22% from June 2014, reflecting very positive movement in hiring activity, as recorded by Winejobs.com. Logging 366 points, June had the second-highest monthly total since the index was set at 100 points in January 2007. Only April 2015 was higher. The increase in June also helped boost the 12- month index to 19% more than the same pe- riod a year earlier. Job postings in the subcategory of wine- making were the highest on record, growing 18% from June 2014. Wineries often concen- trate their winemaker searches from April through July to prepare for harvest. Winery hiring activity in direct-to-consumer, tasting room and retail jobs grew 22% in June from a year ago. Hiring for winery sales and marketing posi- tions turned around this year, showing gains over 2014 in each month except February and peaks in January and May. Off-Premise Sales Winery Job Index Complete data is available at winesandvines.com/metrics METRICS 10 WINES&VINES August 2015 Winery Job Index MONTH June 2015 366 June 2014 300 12 MONTHS June 2015 261 June 2014 220 MONTHLY INDEX 22% 19% Off-Premise Sales MONTH June 2015 $602M June 2014 $571M 12 MONTHS June 2015 $8,101M June 2014 $7,676M MONTHLY SALES 5% 6% Direct-to-Consumer Shipments MONTH June 2015 $92M June 2014 $87M 12 MONTHS June 2015 $1,901M June 2014 $1,669M MONTHLY SHIPMENTS 14% 6% Source: winejobs.com Source: , Wines Vines Analytics. Domestic table and sparkling wine sales in multiple-outlet and convenience stores, four weeks ending June 14, 2015. $ Millions $800 $700 $600 $500 Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun 2014 2013 2015 2014 Source: Wines Vines Analytics/ShipCompliant $ Millions $300 $250 $200 $150 $100 $50 Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun 2015 2014 2013 2014 winejobs.com Index 500 400 300 200 100 2015 2014 2014 2013 Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun U.S. Wine Industry Continues to Look Strong Barefoot Leads Top 20 Brands With Increase in Dollars and Volume Near-Record Pace for Hiring