Alcohol excise rates keep rising, but producers cannot always increase their prices at the same pace. When retailers resist price increases and consumers become more price-sensitive, even a small change in excise can have a noticeable impact on margins. Explore how excise indexation affects wineries, breweries and distilleries in New Zealand and Australia, and what producers can do to plan for the next increase.

Most producers know what their grapes cost, but that’s only part of the story. From production overheads to packaging costs, even a one-cent difference in your cost per litre can become thousands of dollars across a vintage. Understanding your true cost per litre can change how you price, plan and protect your margins.

Wholesale buyers rarely judge reliability by what you say. They judge it by what your business consistently does. Accurate stock information, proactive communication, dependable deliveries, and quick resolution of mistakes all become signals that build trust—and often determine whether a first order turns into a long-term wholesale relationship.

Wholesale buyers may first notice your wine, beer, or spirits, but they choose the producer they believe can deliver consistently. Reliable production, accurate inventory, clear communication, and dependable fulfillment often have a greater impact on winning and retaining wholesale customers than product quality alone.