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Insights, guides and tips from the Claret team

Claret S&OP guide: boost profitability in beverage alcohol

Discover the benefits, best practices and a free checklist to improve your S&OP.

State of the wine industry

What I learned at Unified 2026: The wine industry is fixing itself

After listening to the State of the Industry session from Unified 2026, Claret CEO Shawn Zizzo shares what stuck with him, from the supply correction finally taking hold to the generational shift in wine drinking to one line that reframed everything.

Ai visualization

We’re adding AI to Claret. Here’s why it took us two years.

Every software company rushed to add AI. We waited two years. Claret CEO Shawn Zizzo shares what the team learned about AI before building an assistant that actually helps—and why data privacy turned out to be the hardest part.

2025 in reviewClaret planning software 2025 in review

Sixty releases, one mission: what we shipped in 2025

What do you get when a team obsessed with solving real BevAlc planning problems ships 60 releases in a year? Smarter inventory workflows, faster sales forecasting, more powerful APIs, and a brand-new way to manage pricing complexity. This post explains what changed in Claret in 2025. Each update was made to make your planning easier and more effective.

Claret and IWBC

Iconic Wineries of British Columbia sees the future with Claret

Planning in wine is complex. At Iconic Wineries of British Columbia, long-term planning was somewhat siloed —until they adopted Claret. In this article, John Aitken and Sarah Slocombe share how Claret became their central hub for forecasting, scenario planning, and unifying sales and vineyard strategies across time horizons.

Claret at Unified

The state of the wine industry: What we heard at Unified 2025

The wine industry is facing strong headwinds, from declining consumption to tightening financial conditions. At Unified 2025, industry experts broke down the biggest challenges and opportunities ahead. In this recap, we highlight key takeaways from the State of the Industry session and share insights from Claret’s CEO, Shawn Zizzo, on how wineries can navigate this shifting landscape with smarter strategies.

2024 in review

2024 — Year in review

In 2024, Claret launched game-changing updates across its platform and introduced Claret Profit Maximizer, transforming wine and spirits blending decisions. With innovative features, global growth, and deeper client collaborations, we’ve empowered the beverage alcohol industry to plan smarter and achieve greater profitability. Join us in looking back at the milestones that made this year one to remember!

US wine industry sales trends visualization

The US wine industry challenges and what to do about them

Over the past week, I’ve been checking in with clients and industry insiders, and one topic dominates: distributor destocking. While I naively thought this was a problem of the past, it’s clear the issue is still very much alive. Retailers are also pulling back on inventory, compounding the problem. This reduction in stock across the board is having a ripple effect, resulting in a massive revenue hit across the beverage alcohol industry.

Claret and Duckhorn

Case Study: How Claret is improving wine sales forecasting for Duckhorn

Duckhorn Vineyards successfully navigated the challenges of rapid growth and market volatility by implementing Claret. The system's user-friendly interface and powerful forecasting capabilities have enabled Duckhorn to maintain and even enhance its growth trajectory during uncertain times.

S&OP tips: Engaging your Sales and Marketing teams

Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) is a critical business process that ensures alignment between various departments, particularly sales and marketing, to achieve maximum organizational success. Effective S&OP can lead to improved customer service, increased profitability, better decision-making, and enhanced collaboration. However, engaging sales and marketing teams in the S&OP process can be challenging. This blog post will explore strategies to overcome these challenges and fully integrate these teams into the S&OP process.

The origin story of Claret Profit Maximizer

Shawn Zizzo, founder of Claret, delves into the origin of the Claret Profit Maximizer, tracing his journey from early career projects in supply chain optimization to pioneering wine blend optimization. He shares insights from his transition into winemaking, the initial skepticism from the wine industry, and the breakthroughs achieved through integrating advanced AI, culminating in a tool designed to enhance wine blending without overshadowing the artistry involved.

safety stock strategies

Avoiding stockouts: Strategic safety stock calculation for supply chain success

Navigating inventory levels in the beverage alcohol industry, where demand fluctuates unpredictably, can be tricky. You aim to avoid both empty shelves and excess stock. A robust safety stock calculation is key. In this blog, we'll explore the essential data and formulas that help refine your inventory management. Whether you're a seasoned expert or a newcomer, mastering safety stock calculations is crucial for efficient supply chain operations.

Engaging teams

Engaging stakeholders in tech transformations: The next steps

Welcome back to our journey through the world of technology transformation within the beverage alcohol industry.

Business person

Uncorking innovation: crafting compelling cases for tech transformation

In the complex and nuanced world of the beverage alcohol industry, where tradition meets innovation at every turn, the adoption of specialized software solutions can be a game-changer. As businesses strive to refine their operations, from vineyard management to distribution, the need for a tool that understands and addresses industry-specific challenges has never been more critical. However, before embarking on the digital transformation journey, it's essential to lay the groundwork by carefully scoping out requirements and building a compelling business case.

Alcohol and sports sponsorship

Raising the bar: how alcohol and sports sponsorship influence fan experiences

When fans watch sport and attend sporting events, a myriad of emotions are experienced. Explore alcohol and sports sponsorship's impact on fan experiences and how modern planning and forecasting tools empower companies for success.

Wine oversupply visualization

Navigating wine oversupply — from vineyard to consumer and back

Explore the dynamics of wine oversupply and its impact on the global beverage industry. Uncover the influence of shifting consumer trends and the growing demand for non-alcoholic wines. Learn how the strategic use of continuous forecasting and predictive analytics can effectively address these challenges, turning wine oversupply into opportunities for innovation and growth in the wine sector.

The art of forecasting

The art and science of forecasting in the beverage alcohol industry

Dive into the intricate world of forecasting in the beverage alcohol industry. This article unravels the challenges faced by industry players, from navigating diverse distribution channels to handling high stakes. Discover how a blend of modern tools and collaborative insights can shape more accurate and effective forecasting strategies. Prepare to be enlightened on how to master the art and science of predicting trends in the beverage sector.

Frustrated person working with complex spreadsheets

The hidden dangers: 4 spreadsheet disadvantages in Bev Alc planning

Despite their widespread use and alluring user interface, spreadsheets fall short in several critical areas. Let's focus on four key disadvantages of using spreadsheets to plan your Bev Alc business.

Sustainable vineyard practices representing ESG

Catering to the conscious: ESG in wine and the younger consumer's demand

Gen Z and Millenials' eco-conscious preferences drive evolution within the wine industry. These generations prioritize sustainability and social responsibility, prompting wineries to embrace Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles. This article delves into sustainability's significance in the wine sector, offers ESG-friendly practice examples, and outlines steps for wineries to become more ESG-friendly.

Supply chain cost reduction visualization

Practical supply chain cost savings ideas: a comprehensive guide for the beverage alcohol industry

Discover practical supply chain cost savings ideas for the beverage alcohol industry. Learn how predictive analytics, streamlined ordering, efficient inventory management, and effective collaboration can significantly reduce costs and boost your bottom line.

Team collaboration bridging sales and operations

Bridging the gap: how to engage sales teams in collaborative forecasting effectively

Here we discuss the importance of engaging sales teams in collaborative forecasting. It highlights strategies like aligning incentives, providing training, fostering communication, and utilizing technology. Showcasing benefits and measuring success using key performance indicators ensures continuous improvement in the forecasting process.

Sales operations pathSales vs demand planning visualization

Sales and operations planning vs demand planning

This post highlights the differences between demand planning and sales & operations planning (S&OP) in the beverage alcohol industry. Demand planning focuses on forecasting customer demand using historical data, market trends, and consumer preferences, enabling businesses to optimize inventory levels and meet service targets. On the other hand, S&OP is a holistic process that balances demand and supply planning to align with the company's overall objectives, promoting collaboration between departments.

Business partnership

The power of partnership: how collaborative planning in the beverage alcohol supply chain drives success

Discover the power of partnership in the beverage alcohol supply chain. Learn about the three-tier network, the importance of collaboration, and strategies for success in the industry.

Cycle Inventory visualization

Cycle Inventory – meaning, importance and how to calculate

It is that part of the entire inventory that helps the company to meet the usual demand for the product. It is essential because this is what a company uses first to fulfill the customer’s order.