Probably the best Cannes show I have attended. The mood was excellent and participants came to do business.

Summary

  • There were 5983 visitors, up from the 3373 at the 2021 event, and only just behind the 7215 record attendance from 2019.
  • There were 386 exhibitors of which 99 were wines, spirit and beer companies.
  • There were two South African exhibitors – Distell and Diverse Flavours.
  • We had a new stand location, which worked well and felt fresh and new.
  • We had 55 meetings at our stand, and numerous conversations and discussions off stand during the week.

It was a great show to launch CAPE DIVERSITY GIN, and to introduce our new line extensions from 88 Vineyards – the Rosé and Sauvignon Blanc.

Latest industry data highlights

  • Passenger traffic is rebounding in many parts of the world. IATA’s latest data – first 7 months of 2022 shows traffic recovering -25.4% compared to 2019.
  • Forecast is for global air traffic to be more than three-quarters of 2019 level by year end.
  • Cruise line sector also rebounded with estimates that the sector will only be 5% behind 2019 level of 29.7 million passengers.
  • However, with no or little Chinese travellers at present spend per head is down, but all in all it’s a positive outlook.
  • Border shop business particularly around Asia still slow, as cross border travelling is still restricted under COVID protocols.

The conference started with a fantastic address by David McWilliams, economist, author and broadcaster: “Adapting to a changing environment is our greatest strength as a species, and economies and businesses ought to react in the same way. Look at the economy as a giant evolutionary system.”

He went on to show how there are many similarities between now,2022 and 100 years ago in 1922. The power of history: “cycles repeat themselves, think unconventionally”.

He began by referring to a quote from Vladimir Lenin: “There are decades when nothing happens; and there are weeks when decades happen”.

“Lenin said that 100 years ago in 1922, when the world was in an enormous state of flux, and I’m sure you feel that we’re living through those weeks now” he said. How true! He also quoted a poem called The Second Coming by W.B.Yeats:

“The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity”.

The poem was written in 1919, allegorically describing the atmosphere of post-war Europe.