By Shane T Williams
Over 100 ILG members spent last week in Seoul and Busan exploring the hospitality of South Korea, meeting new members and old friends while getting up to speed on the performance one of Australia’s largest and most successful liquor co-operatives.
ILG Chair and owner of Fleet Street Pittwater Cellers Damien Bottero believes ILG is well positioned to navigate the current economic conditions. ILG owns its own warehouse, has a highly engaged, stable and proactive board and is focused on helping members get through the current economic conditions.
“I am thankful for the things ILG, the Board and Esposito have done in the past. We have a really solid foundation that will see members through to the other side. We own our own warehouse and being a co-operative, we have the benefit of a very reliable and proven system,” said Bottero.
Bottero also said that as well as bringing a variety of experience each director shares the vision of helping members, he added that the ILG Board is working effectively and is robust.
“There is great harmony in the Board,” Bottero said. “Directors each have their own opinion, discuss ideas and we question a lot of things. Board discussions distil down to collective ideas and a shared path, so we know where we’re going.
“All the directors believe that the ultimate focus is on members, and that’s the joy of a cooperative. Even in these hard times ILG is doing well because people are realising the benefit of our cooperative system. Everything goes back to the members, and everything that we do is for the members.
“Each ILG study tour is a family reunion. It’s also a great opportunity to catch up with some new people and old friends. There are a few members on their first ILG trip and they’re loving it. People are already putting their hand up for next year’s trip which is going to be huge, that’s our 50th anniversary,” said Bottero.
While in Seoul, delegates had the opportunity to visit the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), as well as the Gyeongbokgung Palace while experiencing plenty of traditional Korean BBQ.
To read the full report on the 2024 ILG South Korea study tour, including interviews with CEO Paul Esposito and Trading Manager Tony Olivero, read the October issue of National Liquor News.
See below for more pictures from South Korea:
