Beverage Industry Inclusion
Remy Drabkin founded Remy Wines in Oregon ’ s Willamette Valley in 2006 .
Joy Spence became the world ’ s first female Master Blender at rum producer Appleton Estate in 1997 .
Dana Spaulding , founder / CEO of single-serve wine brand Wander + Ivy .
14 2022 Beverage Industry Inclusion
Providing a well-defined career growth plan is also important , Cordero says . “ The spirits industry is all about new ideas , always staying up-to-date in new trends and innovation . It is in our DNA to always look for what is the latest , to be creative . People will be in need of new challenges and move through positions within the organization .”
To retain a diverse workforce , Ochoa says , “ companies can provide training and opportunities for growth . For many , this job is a passion , so being able to continue learning and growing in the industry helps feed that passion .”
Employers need to show a real commitment to diversity by putting resources toward DEI , Drabkin says . “ Everyone who works for Remy Wines , me included , is required to complete a comprehensive DEI course paid for by the winery . Using this course as a guide , we have regular ongoing discussions around diversity , and we make concrete efforts to attract and retain a diverse workforce every day .”
For example , “ I instituted a bilingual pay incentive to attract a multilingual workforce ,” Drabkin explains . “ The hope is that moves like these will make our winery and tasting room welcoming and accessible to anyone who wants to visit us .”
FLEXIBLE FUTURES Women coming into the beverage alcohol industry should have an easier time than some of their predecessors . “ It is recognized that women have brought a different dimension to the industry ,” Spence says .
“ The most exciting piece to me is that this has become a consistent conversation with suppliers , customers and distributors ,” says Engel . “ It ’ s a part of every deck and its importance has risen to the top of the agenda , which is critical for this trajectory to continue .”
There are tangible results to the actions and intentionality that everyone has put in this critical space , Engel adds . “ It requires diversity of thought , it helps us better understand our consumers , customers and suppliers , and is a best practice for successful businesses . We are seeing meaningful action in this space , and I ’ m excited to see what the future holds .”
The industry has taken the time to understand the importance of building a workforce with people from different cultural backgrounds , generations , skills , experiences gender , Cordero says . “ Most of all , they are paying special attention to creating an environment in which everybody feels valued and comfortable .”
What could companies do to ensure that they ’ re attracting and retaining a more diverse workforce ?
“ As a mother of two little ones , I find flexibility to be extremely important ,” Spaulding notes . “ Major flexibility and support for mothers is critical in attracting and retaining talented women who choose to also raise a family .”
Brittany Merrill-Yeng , who cofounded the peanut-butter-flavored whiskey brand Skrewball in 2018 with husband Steven Yeng , agrees . “ Each individual has different needs and different things that inspire them . We believe flexibility is key to allowing people to grow as individuals in our organization .” Providing that flexibility ensures that people from different backgrounds , perspectives and circumstances feel welcome , she notes .
LASTING LEGACIES In the five years that Ochoa has been in the industry , she ’ s seen efforts to make the whiskey business more inviting to women and people of color . “ Programs and internships have been created for underrepresented professionals ,” such as the STEPUP Foundation spirits training and entrepreneurship program . “ There ’ s still plenty of room for change ,” she notes , “ but improvements have become visible .”
Customers vote with their dollars , and DEI has become important to an increasing number of consumers , says Merrill-Yeng . “ I have seen more and more companies realizing that it is an issue they cannot ignore .”
There is ROI on DEI , says Drabkin . “ Diverse companies are stronger companies , and diverse companies are better able to weather economic downturns .”
Diversity also needs to be valued continuously — and not because it will elevate the brand or the company name , Cordero says . “ Inclusion will foster a sense of creativity , innovation and engagement among team members . In our industry these are characteristics that need to be present in everything we do . This will determine our reputation and legacy .”