Pernod Ricard Winemakers (PRW) has outlined a new partnership with food system intelligence innovator Trellis to support its business and supply chain operations .
The integration of Trellis’ artificial intelligence (AI) technology will provide PRW with accurate grape yield, quality, harvest timing and procurement cost prediction across Australia and New Zealand.
PRW’s Alex Kahl, who is leading the project and the optimisation of technology across operations said the company is committed to working with AI innovators that are reimagining global supply chains.
He said: “We were impressed by Trellis’ expertise in the industry and proven ability to scale across complex business units and multiple geographies. We are excited to give our teams the ability to more accurately predict risks and uncover new opportunities for efficiency.”
With Trellis, the PRW team will be able to strengthen the resilience of its complex supply chain and maximise the profitability of its operations by empowering data-driven decisions at strategic points in the growing season and harvesting cycle.
Ilay Englard, founder and CEO of Trellis, said: “Our traditional food and beverage supply chains are broken and volatile. Working with industry visionaries like Pernod Ricard Winemakers that share our commitment to using data to fuel smarter decisions, Trellis is building a more sustainable, resilient food supply and demand system.
“We look forward to helping Pernod Ricard Winemakers effectively navigate all of the challenges in the years ahead – from erratic weather and natural disasters driven by climate change, to surging international trade concerns, regulations and tariffs – to maintain their market leadership.”
Brett McKinnon, chief operations officer at PRW added: “Trellis empowers us to make better, faster decisions by dynamically foreseeing potential risks that could negatively impact our bottom line, as well as providing extra lead time to manage operational challenges.
“Its advanced AI capabilities will also help our team anticipate fluctuations in supply so we can properly allocate resources. We expect Trellis to help us significantly lower our procurement costs and overall production costs, while also ensuring a much more efficient harvest.”
PRW’s viticulture, harvest operation, supply chain, procurement, and wine production teams will have access to Trellis’ AI models on desktop and mobile applications later this month.