• McGuigan Wines parent flags earnings shortfall
• Global wine importers get a taste of South Australia
• Perks and The Village Co. partner to support new mums
• Aerometrex pens $1.69 million dataset contract
• South Australian company launches new way to make custom kitchens

McGuigan Wines parent flags earnings shortfall

Amid a “challenging” trading environment and damage to vines done by adverse weather events and flooding earlier this year, listed vintner Australian Vintage has flagged a major deterioration of anticipated full year earnings.

The company expects underlying earnings to come in between $26 million and $28 million – a major dive from the $45.7 million achieved last year.

Revenues meanwhile are tipped to remain steady in the range of $255 million and $260 million for the Adelaide-headquartered winemaker that owns brands such as McGuigan Wines, Nepenthe and Tempus Two.

The company chalks the dip up to a number of factors, one of which being the absorption of approximately $26 million of hyper-inflationary costs over the past two years and its inability to pass those onto customers given the impact of market discounting at the top-line.

“Despite these challenges, AVG has continued to win market share across all its key geographies ensuring stability in its revenue line through FY23,” Australian Vintage said.

The company also flagged a non-cash winery production fixed cost write off amounting to approximately $9 million due to vineyard damage from flooding which resulted in vintage intake amounting to 80,000 tonnes compared to last year’s 102,000.

“We remain confident in our strategic plan and are highly enthused by the performance of our innovative and premium brands,” AVG CEO Craig Garvin said.

“We continue to gain market share across all key geographies despite the tough trading environment.

“We are making proactive decisions today to both improve our financial performance as well as our ability to operate with agility to our strategic plan.”

– David Simmons

Global wine importers get a taste of South Australia

Global wine importers from Japan and South Korea last week received an opportunity to taste and invest in South Australian wines from some of the state’s leading wine regions.

Members of the South Australian Wine Ambassadors Club (SAWAC) toured the Adelaide Hills, Barossa and McLaren Vale to sample local products.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in the year ending April 2023 South Australian wine exports to Japan hit $23.5 million and South Korea hit $29.3 million for a combined value of $52.8 million – representing four per cent of South Australia’s total wine export value.

In that same year, South Australian wine exports totalled $1.31 billion and made up 64 per cent of the total value of Australian wine exports.

Minister for Trade and Investment, Nick Champion said the SAWAC tours are a great way for local winemakers to showcase their wines to major buyers.

“Having leading wine importers across the Asia-Pacific region experience what our State has to offer first-hand will help more South Australian wines enter and grow in new markets,” Champion said.

– Elisabeth Marie

A packaging day with The Village Co. Photo: SALIFE.

Perks and The Village Co. partner to support new mums

Adelaide accounting and wealth advisory firm Perks has partnered with not-for-profit The Village Co. to donate day-to-day necessities to new mums in South Australia experiencing hardship.

The partnership will see Perks team members assemble care bags for new mums and their babies and deliver the goods to The Village Co.’s drop-off locations in addition to an initial $20,000 donation and the placement of a product donation box in Perks’ Flinders Street office.

The Village Co. was founded by former midwife Stephanie Malan in 2018 and helps over 800 women each year.

Perks chose the organisation as part of its Social Responsibility Committee where team members said they want to support a charity that helps disadvantaged children in the state.

Perks Social Responsibility Committee Chair and Perks Director Kerry Bosnich said the partnership reflects the company’s commitment to creating a positive impact in the local community.

“Knowing that there is such a great need for these kinds of services and the profound effect that this organisation can have on new mothers at such a momentous time in their lives, deeply resonated with us,” Bosnich said.

“It takes a village to raise a child, and we want to be part of that village for new mothers in SA, who, for whatever reason, don’t have that support.”

– Elisabeth Marie

Aerial shot taken using Aerometrex’s MetroCam. Photo: Aerometrex.

Aerometrex pens $1.69 million dataset contract

Aerial mapping business Aerometrex has entered into a contract with an Australian Federal Government Agency to deliver off-the-shelf datasets, valued at $1.69 million.

“We are delighted to have again been awarded a material sale of data to the Australian Federal Government which follows the single largest sale of geospatial datasets in the history of Aerometrex announced in June 2022,” Aerometrex CEO Steve Masters said.

“This sale continues to reinforce the company’s strategy to focus on creating high quality datasets where the intellectual property ownership belongs to Aerometrex that can be re-sold to all customers.”

– David Simmons

Packers recently launched MyDIY Kitchens. Photo: supplied.

South Australian company launches new way to make custom kitchens

The South Australian manufacturer and retailer of architectural windows, doors, shower screens and built-in furniture Packers recently introduced myDIY Kitchens – an online platform allowing customers to design custom kitchens and have them preassembled and delivered.

The platform comes after the success of myDIY Wardrobes – a similar product for built-in wardrobes which launched 16 months ago.

“Since myDIY Wardrobes inception, we’ve witnessed consistent month-on-month growth, a testament to our commitment to delivering exceptional products and services,” said Packers.

“With myDIY Kitchens, we aim to build upon this success and continue transforming how kitchens are designed, ordered, and delivered.

“Our user-friendly online platform allows customers to receive instant quotes at their convenience, eliminating the need for long waits or on-site appointments.

“We understand the importance of seeing our product in your home, which is why we offer sample boxes delivered directly to your doorstep. This allows you to experience the quality and colour of our cabinetry and envision it in your own space.”

– Elisabeth Marie