An announcement detailing 81 permanent job cuts was officially submitted and processed on February 6, as indicated in the records. These layoffs are set to take effect on April 8. The company mentioned “a significant decline in business revenues, prompting a major restructuring of operations and staff” as the reason behind the decision, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The roles that will be eliminated include drivers, forklift operators, mechanics, security personnel, cellar supervisors, viticulturists, and microbiology technicians, as reported by the publication.
Aside from Charles Shaw, the Bronco Wine Co. portfolio also encompasses brands such as Rosenblum Cellars, Carmenet, Picket Fence, Crane Lake Cellars, and Longevity Wines.
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History of Charles Shaw wine
Fred Franzia, the visionary behind the Charles Shaw wine label, passed away in September 2022 at the age of 79. In 1973, he co-founded the Bronco Wine Company in Ceres, situated in the San Joaquin Valley, just south of Stockton, alongside his brother Joseph and cousin John. Renowned publication Wine Spectator dubbed Franzia the “Bad Boy of California Wine” due to his disdain for high-end wines, and in the ’80s, the company began acquiring distressed vineyards. It was in 1995 that Bronco Wine Company acquired the rights to the Charles Shaw brand for a mere $25,000, as reported by Wine Spectator. This acquisition ultimately led to the launch of the famed Charles Shaw wine at Trader Joe’s outlets in California in 2002, priced at just $1.99.
These recent layoffs follow the closure of several smaller wineries like Carlisle, Tarpon, and Vinca Minor, as mentioned in the Chronicle, along with reports of major companies like Southern Glazer laying off hundreds of workers last autumn.
This report includes contributions from Mike Snider.
Covering the West County region for the Ventura County Star is Wes Woods II. For further inquiries, reach out to him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-0262, or on Twitter at @JournoWes.
This article was originally published on The Record: California Winery Responsible for Trader Joe’s Charles Shaw Wine Announces Layoffs.
