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Written by Chris Rauber
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Thursday, 11 June 2009 00:00 |
New Vine Logistics, a Napa-based wine-shipping and distribution company whose saga in recent weeks has transfixed much of the wine business, emailed customers late Wednesday night that it’s “resuming operations.”
The message, signed by “The New Vine Team,” said the company would begin shipping orders on June 11, thanks to funding lined up late last week from Inertia Beverage Group.
“New Vine Online will be open for order submission as of midnight tonight,” the message to customers said, “and we will be working with our partners to re-enable interfaces that facilitate orders and status through their Ecommerce and Point-of-Sale systems that are integrated with New Vine.”
The missive asked customers to follow the normal process for submitting non-wine club orders, and gave other instructions for wine club shipments. Josh Langford, a new NVL spokesman, confirmed that the company had indeed sent the message to customers late Wednesday night.
“We appreciate your continued patience through this process and thank you for your support,” New Vine said in a communication obtained by the San Francisco Business Times on Thursday morning. “We will keep you updated as new information becomes available.”
Tom Wark, a spokesman for Inertia Beverage Group, said New Vine's announcement is "very, very good news for a lot of different people." Wark confirmed that IBG has provided funding to New Vine, but could not say how much.
Last Friday, June 5, officials at Napa’s Inertia Beverage Group announced they had agreed in principle with Silicon Valley Bank to acquire its debt position in New Vine Logistics, subject to due diligence and definitive agreements.
At the time, New Vine seemed headed for a different deal, but nearly complete plans for a purchase of assets by 1-800-Flowers.com Inc. fell through at the last minute, sources said. Eight-year-old New Vine laid off much of its staff in late May, brusquely told customers at the time it was no longer receiving or processing new orders.
On June 5, Ted Jansen, Inertia’s president and CEO, said his company would provide “interim cash funding” to New Vine once the deal was completed, adding “Operations are already gearing up and we are confident in the ability of New Vine’s operational team and employees to quickly respond.”
Inertia helps customers build and expand online wine sales sites, by providing the tools to market wineries’ products online. All told, it helps more than 500 wine brands gain access to online sales.
Clients use its web-based technology to handle online sales, process orders, manage inventory and wine clubs, ensure compliance with regulations, and for other customer-service functions, according to Inertia.
Email Chris Rauber at
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/ (415) 288-4946
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