DIAM Announces US Market Advance

DIAM Announces US Market Advance

Napa, CA - July, 2009. The technical cork closure DIAM has invested in a strategic program of activities in the US in order to grow volume sales in the closure market for wines.

The objective of the ambitious program is to increase the profile of DIAM within the US trade and consumer wine media, build relationships with key industry influencers and drive closure debate. Moreover, DIAM is committed to engaging with winemakers, retailers and distributors to drive awareness of current issues and ensure all key stakeholders start to ‘think’ about the benefits of the closure options available. The programme will feature a series of integrated activities including market visits by key DIAM representatives, media and trade interviews, closure seminars and presentations with leading AVA’s, roundtable debates at key wine conferences, fairs and competitions in addition to further US-based research studies with a leading US University.

DIAM is a technical cork, produced by the patented DIAMANT super-critical CO2 process, delivering a consistently neutral, TCA-free cork closure. Validated by several world-wide independent laboratories, the DIAMANT process uses super-critical CO2 to eradicate 2,4,6 – trichloroanisole (TCA) and 150 other compounds. Globally, DIAM is the leading technical cork closure with value sales of €57M in 2008, and enjoyed an 8.5 per cent increase in US market share in 2008.

Commenting on the U.S. market advance, DIAM commercial director Dean Banister said: “DIAM, with its track record of success and acceptance in the influential UK and European markets, has an opportunity to increase its US market share by delivering a driven closure that is TCA-free, doesn’t scalp flavors, is consistent and offers winemakers varying levels of Oxygen Transmission Rates (OTR). The global trend within the closure market is to move away from poor quality and under performing natural and synthetic closures - we are firmly focused on driving the debate and delivering a real solution to the somewhat neglected US market,” states Banister.

Globally, there are over 1800 wineries and distributors using DIAM, including premium producers such as Louis Jadot, Hugel, Stonestreet, Freemark Abbey, Kunde, Bouchard, Moët & Chandon, Langtry and Kendall Jackson. In addition, UK retail giant Tesco has recently nominated DIAM as one of only three- permitted closure types for its vast own-label wine range.
For more information on Diam technical corks, please visit http://www.diam-cork.com/.

For images, background or interviews, please contact Kimberly Charles of Charles Communications Associates at 415 701 9463 or kcharles@charlescomm.com.

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