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Weekly Update Week 50: Dec 7th – Dec 11th

December 09, 2020

Freight Updates

Shipping delays, we have written repeatedly about the shipping and other factors that have affected so many orders.  The graph below shows the on time performance of global fleets.

Shipping delays, along with increased shipments, Covid related staffing problems, container availability problems, port and trucking issues are combining to make Q4 a logistics nightmare.  There is no doubt that this disruption will continue into Q1.  To mitigate delays we encourage you to place your orders as early as possible.

More details on carrier schedule reliability may be found here.

Reefer Availability – France/Spain  Reefer availability continues to be an issue. For the West Coast, we are experiencing a 2+ week delay in reefer shipments.  For the East Coast, delays are approximately 2 weeks.  As an alternative, we would suggest you consider insulated containers for East Coast shipments.  In the case of LCL shipments, this will not only result in quicker shipment, but the cost per case of an insulated shipment will be reduced by $0.75.  We will be reaching out to our customers, who currently have East Coast shipments booked, to see if you would like to change from reefer to insulated containers. As of this week, we are now experiencing 3 – 4 day delays for release of containers from East and West Coast ports.

Federal Maritime Commission expands investigation of ports’ demurrage, detention problems. The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is reacting to the growing chorus of complaints and protests about operations at the ports of Long Beach, Los Angeles and New York/New Jersey by launching an expansion of an existing fact-finding mission.
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New Year FDA Renewals

All FDA numbers must be renewed for 2021

This is a reminder that all food facility registration are due for renewal by December 31, 2020. Please keep in mind that this year the FDA has added an additional step and that all facilities must include a unique facility identifier (UFI) also known as the DUNS number with their registration. 

While the FDA expects all registrants to provide their DUNS number with their renewal submission before December 31, 2020, the Agency recognizes that there may be a delay in obtaining a DUNS number.

If you are unable to obtain a DUNS number prior to the end of the renewal period, you may enter “PENDING” in the UFI field of your registration and will then have 90 days to obtain and update your registration with a DUNS number.  Failure to update the registration with a valid DUNS number will result in cancellation of the registration.

Distribution Updates

We have seen promising order volume in our direct markets in December so far. Please look out for our Christmas and New Year’s delivery schedule memo that will go out later this week.

DNT has made some updates to their Winter 2020 schedule. These changes will go into effect from November 1st, 2020 through April 30th, 2021.  Click Here to Read More.

You may reference our cutoffs for next-day deliveries at our website here.

In the meantime, all of our warehouses continue to operate with limited staff, resulting in delayed turnaround times for both physical requests and inbounds.  FDL’s delivery schedule has been updated to five days a week and may be found here.

News:

  • The Internet is certainly changing how we buy wine, read how here at The Drinks Business.
  • Life for grape growers is about to get a little earlier.  The first yield sensor monitor is on its way, read about it in Vitisphere here.
  • ‘Tis the season for gifting, here are some experts’ favorite bottles to give and receive at Punch Drink.

 “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.”
— Robert Louis Stevenson
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