Perdue Farms, the fourth largest food and agriculture company in the United States, is celebrating its 776 certified professional truck drivers who are among the 3.5 million hard-working and dedicated men and women who not only deliver the country’s goods safely, securely, and on time, but also keep the nation’s highways safe this National Truck Driver Appreciation Week September 10-16. “I started my career as a Route Sales truck driver in Omaha, Nebraska, and drove a semi-transport between Omaha and Kansas City, delivering fresh bread and rolls to customers. From long hours on the road away from family to the responsibility of transporting company products, there is so much more than what meets the eye,” said Kevin McAdams, CEO of Perdue Farms. “Our professional drivers are the heart of our company, touching every part of the supply chain, and their commitment to our customers has not once faltered. The contributions of all truck drivers are felt in every corner of the country.” Perdue truck driver Charlie Dennis has been driving for 36 of his 42 years at the company and has logged more than 2.25 million safe driving miles. The Company is proud to have employed 225 Million Mile Drivers, including Charlie. In his nearly four decades driving for Perdue Farms, Charlie has delivered to customers up and down the East Coast but now runs shorter hauls between Perdue facilities and trains new drivers. “Over the past 42 years working for Perdue Farms, I’ve seen first-hand how the Company respects and cares for its drivers. Beyond simply ensuring we have what we need to serve our customers, Perdue goes out of its way to help us on personal levels to help our fleet of drivers be successful,” said Dennis. “I am proud to wear the Perdue Farms uniform because of the reputation we have amongst our customers and on the road.” When he is not making deliveries from Perdue plants across Maryland’s Eastern Shore or assisting with training, Charlie is active in supporting the community. He has volunteered at various food banks, supported the Wreaths Across America® mission, Perdue Touch-a-Truck events, the Special Olympics Delaware truck convoy, and Perdue’s Operation Teddy, a 38-year holiday tradition of giving residents of a state of Maryland facility for those with disabilities rides in his big rig. He also helps at events hosted by the Delmar Volunteer Fire Department in Delaware. According to the American Trucking Association, trucks move 72.6% of the United States’ freight by weight and is a $940.8 billion dollar industry that employs 3.5 million professional truck drivers.

We are all aware of the climate crisis the whole world is facing as huge amounts of gases caused by burning fossil fuels increase the greenhouse effect and the Earth’s temperature. There is also a relatively wide awareness of the measures proposed by various governments to combat global warming – such as the push for people to switch to electric vehicles as we prepare for production of petrol and diesel engines to end in less than a decade. Now Allied Vehicles, the UK leader in the manufacture and supply of specialist wheelchair accessible vehicles, has embarked on a tree-planting programme to balance its own carbon footprint. Peter Facenna, Allied’s Managing Director, said changes were already under way to improve the company’s green credentials, but he decided to take it further with the tree-planting programme. Allied employs more than 600 people, and he told them the company intended to plant a tree for every vehicle, scooter and powerchair they sold, and for every new member of staff that joins the firm. “We want to do our bit for the environment, as it’s incredibly important to us. We want to offset our carbon footprint,” said Peter. “And to celebrate our 30th anniversary, we’re also going to plant a tree for every member of staff currently employed.” Allied are working with a company called Grow My Tree, which plants trees specifically aimed at reducing global warming. When choosing where to plant trees, they pay particular attention to the content of the projects they support and local social conditions. Grow My Tree also helps reduce extreme poverty and restore healthy ecosystems by planting trees in cooperation with partners from Haiti to Nepal, Madagascar and Malawi. “We manufacture and we generate a lot of CO2,” says Peter. “There’s a large part of my focus now on the transition to EVs [electric vehicles] and with all of that it’s great to be able to do something to reduce our carbon footprint." “Alfie Kennedy, who heads up our stores team, is a big part of that and has been doing a lot in terms of recyclability. We do so much more recycling than we used to in segregating our waste and so on, but I’m aware there is more we can do." “The future of the planet is vitally important for us, our children and our children’s children, and I’m glad that we can play even a small part in making the world a safer place for them.”

Ahead of World Blind Awareness Month this October and in response to global demand, the LEGO Group announces LEGO® braille bricks are available to purchase for the first time through LEGO.com. The new product - LEGO® Braille Bricks – Play with Braille – is aimed at kids aged 6+ and has been designed so that anyone who is curious about braille, be they blind, partially-sighted or sighted, can have fun getting to know the braille system at home with their family members in a playful, inclusive way. Martine Abel-Williamson, President, World Blind Union, commented: “For blind and partially sighted children, and adults for that matter, it makes all the difference if they can share their journey of learning braille with the people they love the most. For the blind community, braille is not just literacy, it’s our entry to independence and inclusion into this world, and to have LEGO Braille Bricks made available for the wider public is a massive step forward to ensuring more children will want to learn braille in the first place. And because it’s based on a product that so many families already know and love, this is really an invitation for all family members to have fun building tactile skills and getting familiar with braille using the same tool.” Until now, LEGO Braille Bricks have only been distributed free of charge by the LEGO Foundation to organisations* specializing in the education of children with vision impairment. Since the launch of these educational kits in 2020, feedback from parents, carers, grandparents, children, and educators has continually highlighted the positive impact the bricks have and how they transform the way children with vision impairment can learn braille. This overwhelming response has led to the creation of LEGO Braille Bricks - Play with Braille to give families the opportunity to enjoy the benefits and practice their tactile skills at home. Lisa Taylor, mum to 7-year-old Olivia and 4-year-old Imogen, commented: “Olivia first discovered LEGO braille bricks at school and they had such a big impact on her curiosity for braille. Before then, she found it hard to get started with the symbols but now she’s improving all the time. To have a set at home changes everything. We can play with braille together as a family and she can introduce braille to her little sister in a way they both love. LEGO braille bricks are accessible for her without being really different for other kids, so she gets to play and learn just like every other child. That makes her feel included which is so important, not just to Olivia but any child.” LEGO Braille Bricks – Play with Braille includes 287 bricks in five colours: white, yellow, green, red and blue. All bricks are fully compatible with other LEGO products and the studs on each brick are arranged to correspond to the numbers and letters in the braille system, with the printed version of the symbol or letter situated below the studs. The set also includes two baseplates to build on and comes in packaging with braille embossing. To enhance the play experience and support pre-braille skill development, a series of supporting play starters are available on LEGO.com and will teach players how to orient, attach and stack the bricks through well-loved games such as Rock, Paper, Scissors, which all members of the family can take part in. Young girl with vision impairment touching the embossing on the LEGO Braille Bricks – Play with Braille packaging as she sits by a table. Her brother sits next to her and looks at a tablet playing one of the online play starters. Lose LEGO Braille Bricks lay in front of them on the table. The young girl has a pale complexion and blonde hair and the brother has a pale complexion and curly red hair. Rasmus Løgstrup, LEGO Group Lead Designer on LEGO Braille Bricks said: “Play has the power to change lives; when children play, they learn vital life-long skills, so we were thrilled by the reception that LEGO Braille Bricks received in educational settings. We’ve been inundated with thousands of requests to make them more widely available, so we just knew we had to make it happen!” “It’s been a fantastic journey collaborating with children, families and experts from around the world to develop the product and online activity packs. Our partners have been instrumental also in advising on what colourways should be used for the bricks, product packaging and digital experiences to ensure this is optimised for individuals who experience low vision and vision loss. We know this is a strong platform for social inclusion, and can’t wait to see families get creative and have fun playing with braille together.” With its ongoing commitment to make its play experiences more inclusive, the LEGO Group has also partnered with the free mobile app Be My Eyes. The popular app connects blind and partially sighted people with companies to help with everyday tasks through a live video call. As part of the partnership, LEGO Customer Service colleagues will provide confidential, live visual assistance through the app covering support from a wide range of topics from unboxing, to general product support. Mike Buckley, Chairman and CEO, Be My Eyes, commented: "The fact that the LEGO Group is investing in inclusion is huge because so many people in the blind and low vision community already love and enjoy LEGO products. Be My Eyes is incredibly honored to partner with the LEGO Group to enable and inspire the creativity of blind and low vision builders across the globe." The LEGO Group is also pleased to announce that LEGO® Audio & Braille Building Instructions will now become a permanent offering. Inspired and co-developed by entrepreneur Matthew Shifrin who is blind, this experience gives builders the option of having select LEGO building instructions available as audio or text for braille readers. LEGO Braille Bricks – Play with Braille is priced at 89.99 USD and now available for pre-order in English and French versions ahead of launch September 1st 2023. In early 2024, the set will also be available in Italian, German and Spanish versions. The LEGO Foundation will continue to carry out research and distribute LEGO Braille Bricks educational kits free of charge through partnering national blindness associations and other partnering organisations.

Coopers have claimed ‘Highly Commended’ at the eleventh annual Australian Drinks Awards Sydney. Coopers received this accolade for its ongoing philanthropic efforts as part of The Coopers Brewery Foundation. Endeavour Group's Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, Dan Holland congratulated Coopers on its Highly Commended Award in his award category speech: "This organisation is recognised for its unique and widespread philanthropic effort over many years. Representatives from this family business remain directly involved in the foundation, as they do the brewery." Foundation Chair, Mel Cooper, said Coopers was honoured to receive such acknowledgment. "For us, this award recognises the generosity of the brewery’s staff, shareholders, corporate partners and other members of the public who support our Foundation,” she said. “Through their actions, the Coopers Brewery Foundation has donated more than $7 million to Australian charities since its inception in 2006." “As a sixth-generation family-owned business, Coopers understands the importance of supporting families and individuals in their time of need. The Foundation is having a real impact on the lives of many Australians, and we are as determined as ever to continue making a difference.” Georgia Lennon CEO Drinks Association also said “Congratulations to Coopers for being awarded a Highly Commended in the Corporate Social Responsibility category. Your invaluable contributions and remarkable achievements continue to set new benchmarks for the industry.”

Canterbury, the official kit partner to Irish Rugby, announces a new four-year partnership with the Irish Rugby Football Union until the end of the 2028 season. The renewal, which spans all national teams, including men’s, women’s, underage and Sevens, brings the total duration of the partnership between Canterbury and the IRFU to 23 years. The current partnership, running from 2014, has delivered four Six Nations wins, including two Grand Slams for the Men’s side, one Women’s Six Nations title and three Grand Slams for the U20s side. The sponsorship also extends to the IRFU’s Canterbury Give It A Try programme, a grassroots initiative designed to give girls aged between 8 and 14 the opportunity to learn how to play rugby in a fun and safe environment. Since 2020, over five thousand girls have participated in the programme. The four-year deal means that Canterbury will continue to produce match day and training wear which incorporates advanced technologies and cutting-edge design, as well as a wide range of supporter wear for Irish Rugby fans. On the deal, Padraig Power, chief commercial officer of the IRFU, said: “As the official kit partner to the IRFU since 2014, Canterbury shares our ambition to grow the game in Ireland. Canterbury’s consistency in producing unparalleled design and technically excellent kit continues to give our teams an edge on the field and our supporters a great choice in leisure wear. We’re very excited to see our men’s team take to the pitch at Rugby World Cup, and we are also looking forward to our women’s team participating in the inaugural WXV later in the year.” Simon Rowe, Pentland Brand’s vice president of global sports marketing, commented: “In the IRFU, we’ve discovered genuine partners and this agreement reflects almost a quarter of a century of teamwork from grassroots to elite levels. At an international level, our partnership with the IRFU exemplifies our deliberate approach to collaboration, underscoring our commitment to selective partnerships, furthering our dedication to nurturing the sport at the grassroots, and championing equity on the playing field.”

One of Scotland’s fastest-growing food brands has announced that reducing its carbon emissions by almost 110% helped the company to survive Brexit, Covid and especially the ongoing energy crisis. We hae meat, which supplies major supermarket chains with high-quality sausages and burgers from its Ayrshire farm and factory, installed a biomass plant on site and solar panels. The investments helped to save £750,000 from its annual energy costs. Alex Paton, fourth-generation farmer and co-founder of the business with his wife Carlyn, said: “Without doubt, we could have closed our doors in the last two years if we hadn’t made our operations much more sustainable. The increase in energy prices, on the back of Brexit and Covid, would have been impossible for us to absorb. We’ve seen other businesses in our sector struggling where we’ve been able to use the cost savings as a basis for growth.” The company first created a carbon management plan in 2015 with support from environmental consultants Tomson Consultancy, reducing its emissions by nearly 90% within the first year alone. It has since gone on to install LEDs and a wastewater treatment system. Further savings have come from switching its delivery fleet to hybrid plug-in vans charged by the company’s own CHP electric generation, saving 66% on fuel costs, and using excess heat from on-site heat generation to replace tumble dryers. These have all resulted in the business now being carbon neutral. The family business includes four traditional farms and even the cattle gain from a greener approach as waste cardboard is shredded for bedding. Alex added: “Brexit has affected competition for labour and maybe an inflationary effect on materials, and clearly Covid was disruptive for virtually every business sector. The increase in energy prices could have been catastrophic. We started on our net zero journey eight years ago because it was the right thing to do but now we’re really seeing the business benefits too.” We hae meat’s achievements have resulted in it being recognised for sustainability with the Co-Op in Scotland Awards and most recently winning at the Scotland Food and Drink Excellence awards in 2022 for Sustainability Achievements.

With a shop measuring just 6ft square, family business Grasmere Gingerbread® has clinched the title of Large Independent Retailer of the Year at the Speciality & Fine Food Fair Awards at Olympia, London. “It’s a fantastic fillip for the entire team at Grasmere Gingerbread®,” said co-director Joanne Hunter, the 3rd generation of her family to own and manage the iconic 169-year-old Lake District business. “Whilst the Grasmere Gingerbread Shop is famous for being one of the tiniest shops in Britain, a hive of activity behind the scenes has helped us to expand and grow.” With hundreds of entries from across the UK, judges prioritised Grasmere Gingerbread® over three other finalists - Flourish at Glenavon Farm in Bristol, Cobbs Farm in Berkshire and the De Beauvoir Deli in London. Grasmere Gingerbread® was described as a “pioneering retailer” that provides “exceptional customer service” and which has developed “exciting initiatives to help future proof the sector and bring the community together in their local area.” “Grasmere Gingerbread® keeps Cumbria’s rich culinary history alive and thriving,” added a spokesman for the Awards which celebrates excellence and product innovation in the fine food & drink community. “During the Covid pandemic, when many small outlets were hit by a major collapse in sales after local markets and shows were cancelled, Grasmere Gingerbread® invested time and energy with suppliers to produce new products for online customers.” Grasmere Gingerbread® recently opened new administration and mail order dispatch offices directly opposite The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop, and this summer opened a second shop in Hawkshead. As well as Grasmere Gingerbread® and other ginger-flavoured foodstuffs, the Hawkshead outlet sells fresh takeaway artisan coffee. Invented in 1854 by Victorian cook Sarah Nelson, Grasmere Gingerbread® is feted by celebrities, royalty and is exported to customers across the globe. Eamont and Eden Rose Hunter, the son and daughter of Joanne and Andrew Hunter who jointly own and manage Grasmere Gingerbread®, collected the trophy at Olympia, London. For Joanne and Andrew the award is the culmination of more than two decades of dedication. “Since we took over in 2000 we have always honoured the ethos and legacy of Sarah Nelson by growing her original business into something she could be proud of today,” said Andrew. “We now have two shops, are open the whole year round, employ 26 people and run a busy mail order service nationally and internationally to satisfy customer demand.” The business has diversified into wedding favours, ginger-flavoured food products and ginger-themed gifts - most of which are sourced in Cumbria.

Today Speedo UK unveils a limited outdoor swim collections with independent British fashion label Folk. As more consumers embrace outdoor swimming in lakes, rivers and seas, the new collection is designed to celebrate the rush and rapture of wild swimming, with the cosiness and comfort of the post-swim warm-up. Harnessing the design and spirit of Folk with Speedo’s heritage and performance expertise, the range features Folk’s outerwear styles and Speedo’s iconic silhouettes. Pieces include costumes, swim shorts, swimming accessories, fleece tops and parkas, with the swimwear using recycled fabrics. Speedo is an active supporter of outdoor swimming communities through its Outsiders Club, which explores and shares experiences from diverse groups of swimmers across the UK. Former surf champion and keen wild swimmer Sophie Hellyer fronts the campaign that’s set against the backdrop of North Cornwall’s rugged British coastline. Supported by a group of wild swimmers, the windswept shots capture moments of exhilaration in the water and the comfort of warmth back on dry land. Sophie Hellyer said: “I’m so proud to be a part of this special campaign with Speedo and Folk. This collection beautifully reflects the hunger for adventure from both brands by showcasing it authentically on real people for whom wild swimming is a way of life”. Cathal McAteer, founder of Folk Clothing said: “We have admired and been part of the love for cold water swimming – small groups and communities taking to the rivers, ponds, lakes and coast to get the elemental rush of being outdoors in the water. We wanted to make an excellent range of swim and warm-up gear, so we designed a range and partnered with swimming icon Speedo for performance-quality swimwear. We have tackled the outer cold to help deliver the inner peace.” Speedo’s brand vice president, Kirsty Saddler, shared: “The idea of working with Folk to create a cold-water swim collection feels really exciting at a time when we know there’s a growing appetite for outdoor swimming. The design ethic of Folk and its importance on quality speaks to our brand and wild swim audience. The collection is stylish and vibrant yet refined with high function – we’re thrilled to launch such a joyful collaboration.”

Two spa therapists have secured permanent full-time jobs at a Windermere hotel resort, thanks to a work experience initiative and the completion of a set of beauty therapy qualifications. Maya McGregor from Grasmere and Rhianna Bland from Kendal have both joined the team at Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa, having each attained their Level 2 Technical Qualifications and Level 3 Diplomas in Beauty Therapy. English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues offered both students the chance to undertake 30 hours of work experience during their two-year courses with Kendal College, which included classroom sessions coupled with in-house training. From there they applied for full time positions at Low Wood Bay and went through a multi-stage interview process and trade test before securing full time employment with the hotel group. An integral part of the course work experience was for Maya and Rhianna to observe key roles across the spa and see how its system operates, as well as benefitting from individual workshop style training on the delivery of spa treatments and techniques. This included the chance to shadow experienced spa therapists and reception staff in their day-to-day roles to see the whole client journey, including initial bookings and tours of the spa facilities, dealing with client enquires and upholding high standards of cleanliness. Maya and Rhianna were also able to experience treatments to see how they are personalised for each individual client and understand the standards required. They also gained knowledge on the full range of oils and other products used within the spa and their key ingredients and benefits. Maya explains: “The work experience showed us the top-level approaches, product knowledge and service required in our interactions with real clients and helped us to apply the skills we’ve learned and acquired at college in the working environment." “Experiencing the professional delivery of treatments at the spa at Low Wood Bay really helped to show us what the industry is like and to develop our skills and confidence as we moved from the college environment to the reality of the workplace.” Maya and Rhianna have also both passed their ESPA essential face and body training, with tuition delivered by Kiera Carrick, an ESPA qualified trainer, before the spa therapists were independently assessed. Kiera, who is spa training and development manager at Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa, says: “To see Maya and Rhianna successfully complete their qualifications and get jobs with us here shows that our ability to offer work experience can open up new career opportunities." “We now have a team of nine spa therapists in all, important as demand for our services continues to grow. We’ve recently relaunched our spa treatment menu to provide wider variety and more innovation within our treatments. That means a lot of training to deliver to all the therapists so that every client receives an unforgettably relaxing, indulgent treatment." “We have a close-knit team from different nationalities and backgrounds and it's exciting to see them develop and work cohesively together to deliver the highest standard of treatments. As the team continues to grow, I look forward to helping them achieve their aspirations within the spa industry.”

GAP Hire Solutions, the UK’s leading independent hire company, has once again been awarded Gold Status for the Supply Chain School’s Plant Commitment Charter. This accomplishment reflects their dedication to sustainable business practices and environmentally responsible operations. In their pursuit of Gold Status, GAP Hire Solutions excelled in all four core commitments outlined in the Charter: Minimum Standard, Engagement, Awareness and Education, and Innovation. Their submission provided compelling evidence of their efforts, resulting in a perfect score. The company's achievements include impactful engagement activities that led to at least two tangible changes in procurement or hire decisions, favouring lower emission plant options. Furthermore, they executed up to four training activities that effectively engaged employees and promoted the adoption of sustainable practices. GAP also contributed by sharing valuable information on reducing embodied carbon. This achievement enables GAP to share their sustainability related knowledge with their supply chain. By doing so, they help them understand how sustainable business practices can yield cost savings, enhance equipment efficiency, and mitigate risks. The Charter has been created by the Supply Chain Sustainability School’s Plant Group to lead the way for the UK’s built environment to drastically reduce onsite emissions that are harmful to human health and the planet. The four commitments set rigorous standards for engine purchases within the GAP Group fleet, with a focus on reducing air quality impacts and carbon emissions. GAP’s vision is to be the UK’s most innovative hire solutions provider, with a focus on reducing their environmental impact on the world as their business continues to grow. This achievement coincides with the Group publishing their recent Sustainability Update which outlines how GAP Hire Solutions are forging a sustainable future. By collaborating with their customers, GAP is making a positive impact on future generations by promoting cleaner and more sustainable hire services.

The latest survey from Family Business United has identified the key challenges that are being addressed by family business leaders in board rooms up and down the country. With so much political and economic uncertainty at present it is not easy running a business where there are constant business and economic announcements and regulatory changes and therefore unsurprising that macro issues top the agenda again this year with new areas of concern on the agenda such as mental health and wellbeing and issues around the environment. This year’s Family Business Survey sought to get a picture of the issues that are facing family businesses and to highlight the complex agenda that is being addressed. The results are in and clearly identify the main areas of concern for family businesses across the country. The Top Challenges Facing UK Family Businesses Today The Economic Climate (82%) Rising Costs of Labour & Raw Materials (60%) Recruiting, Retaining & Motivating Staff (59%) Mental Health & Wellbeing (35%) Environmental Issues (32% Regulation, Red Tape & Legislation (31%) Staff Shortages/Vacancies (30%) Profitability & Sustainability Of The Business (29%) Global Political Uncertainty (27%) Cyber Security (26%) Balancing The Needs Of The Family & The Business (22%) Succession/Identifying & Developing Future Leaders (21%) Developing Business Overseas (19%) Improving Customer Engagement (18%) Supply Chain Issues (17%) As Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO of Family Business United explains, “These results give us a broad indication of the challenges being faced by family business owners. It is well documented that the past year has continued to be incredibly challenging for businesses across the UK and the boardroom agenda is packed with challenges that do need to be addressed.” “Family firms have shown their resilience and entrepreneurship over the last few years and continue to be innovative in their business decisions but it is clear that there are concerns." “There is a lot on the business agenda and compared to prior years some of the family challenges around succession, transition, governance and engaging the next generation are deemed less important but they should not be forgotten. Family matters will need to be addressed going forward but it is understandable at present the focus remains on the measures that will enable businesses to survive for the longer term,” continues Paul. "Running a business at the moment is challenging but family firms are known to be adaptable, entrepreneurial and innovative, as many have been for generations, and will continue to take the necessary steps to deal with the challenges they face.” “The survey clearly identifies the challenges faced by family business owners around the UK and helps people appreciate that they are not alone in facing these challenges and it also gives recognition to the concerns of this rich, vibrant and diverse sector of the economy. It also gives an indication as to the nature of the conversations that should be taking place around the family business boardroom table too,” concludes Paul. Family Business United conducted the survey during the summer of 2023 canvassing the opinions of family business owners across the UK.

Gallo’s Luxury Wine Group is pleased to announce the addition of Massican to its portfolio of wines, as well as Gallo’s partnership with its visionary founder and winemaker, Dan Petroski. Since its founding in 2009, Massican has been a “white wines only” winery – a rarity in California – that prides itself on transparency and ethical environmental practices. In recent years, Dan has been vocal about Massican’s uncommon goal in the luxury wine space: fair pricing for a more inclusive wine community – a “scalable authenticity.” Dan will continue to control winemaking, sourcing, and brand vision while benefitting from Gallo’s extensive vineyard holdings and grower relationships. Through Gallo’s Lux Wines sales team, Massican will expand its distribution footprint to reach more customers and consumers. “Dan makes great wine,” says Brand Manager John Irwin, “That’s where it has to start, but credibility matters, stewardship matters, and all wine drinkers, from the collector to the novice, want an authentic experience. These are not typical wines, especially for California; they’re low in alcohol, high in acid, salty, fresh. I think that’s because they’re an extension of Dan…there’s a humanity and vision to his wines.” “As a solopreneur, I have taken Massican as far as I could go alone,” says Dan Petroski. “To achieve my vision of being one of the most important white wines made in California, I needed the support of the best professionals in this industry – I found that in Gallo. I can’t wait to see what we can do.” Together, Massican and Gallo will carve out a welcoming space in luxury wine: Mediterranean-inspired white wines made with transparency and respect for environmental impact. About Massican and Dan Petroski: Massican was founded in 2009 in Napa by Dan Petroski to make the kinds of wines he and his friends always drank. Inspired by Italy’s fresh and mineral white wines, he started Napa’s first - and only - white wine winery, growing from 400 cases in his first vintage to 7,500 cases in 2022. Beyond making wine, Dan has been a thought leader regarding the future of California wine, long advocating for a more transparent and inclusive approach to fine wine. He serves on the Board of the Napa Valley Grapegrowers as Chair of the Industry Issues Committee, overseeing all things from land use policy, climate change, water rights, wildfire, pesticide regulation, and more. He also serves on the Board of Napa Green, a global leader in sustainable winegrowing certification. In 2017 he was named “Winemaker of the Year” by the San Francisco Chronicle, and in 2022, Food & Wine Magazine named him one of their Innovators of the Year.