California winery that produces "Two Buck Chuck" to cut nearly 150 more jobs

CERES – For the second time this year, Bronco Wine Company, more known for its product Charles Shaw or "Two Buck Chuck," is cutting jobs.
The wine company in Ceres says it has to cut 146 employees as it adjusts to what it calls "evolving industry dynamics," and it's not the first time.
The company laid off more than 80 workers earlier this year.
One of the Central Valley's biggest producers has laid off more than 220 workers since the start of the year.
Their reason is consumer behavior and population shifts.
Some students at Stanislaus State said wine just isn't on their radar.
"I think Gen Z goes towards Hard Arizona, Twisted Teas, Iced Smirnof,f things like that," a student said.
Grower Stuart Spencer agrees, saying the issue isn't how much Gen Z drinks, it's what they're drinking.
Hard seltzers, cocktails in a can and cheaper grab-and-go options are dominating.
"One of the rising categories are these ready-to-drink, RTD type products that are competing directly with wine," Spencer said.
The changing taste buds are leaving a big mark on the industry.
"There's a lot that's happening right now," Spencer said. "There's a lot growers are doing it, removing vineyards and reducing supply."
In Stanislaus County, the total wine grape production value is on the decline, falling 21% from 2019 to 2023.
"You know, the whole industry has been struggling the last couple years as we've seen decreased demand," Spencer said.
Spencer said the economy plays a role in demand and young people.
At the start of the year, Bronco Wine Company stated they had 750 employees here in Ceres. They've lost over 220 employees since.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Miami Herald

3 hours ago

• Miami Herald

The Unexpected Generations Paying Top Dollar for Auto Loans

Experian reported at the end of 2024 that monthly average car payments were $742 for new vehicles and $545 for used ones, but new data from auto refinancing company Caribou has shown that the amounts that different generations pay vary more than you might think. Caribou's study included Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012, millennials, born from 1981 to 1996, Gen X, born between 1965 and 1980, and baby boomers, born from 1946 to 1964. In its report, Caribou cited Gen Z as spending the largest share of their income on car payments, but millennials were listed as having bigger average loan balances at $38,600. Gen Z was listed as spending the least monthly income on vehicle payments, and baby boomers had the highest average credit score at 735. According to Caribou, Gen Z drivers are most likely to be behind the wheel of a Honda Civic, with an average loan amount of $32,069 and having a 14.05% APR. Millennials were cited as frequently driving a Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and taking on loans with a 12.44% APR. Their higher loan balances can be attributed to the colliding costs of education, housing, and family. Gen X is described as carrying the most significant original loan amounts due to a fondness for larger trucks like the Ford F-150, but these higher starting costs meant the demographic was more likely to achieve the highest monthly savings after refinancing at $147. Next to Gen Z, baby boomers took out the lowest loans at $35,844 on average, and they carried the lowest APR of 11.91%, aligning with millennials in their preference for the Chevrolet Silverado 1500. Caribou evaluated what these generations' auto loans looked like after refinancing by accessing its customers with good credit scores and steady incomes who refinanced their auto loans in 2024. Gen X scored the highest average refinance monthly savings of $147, with millennials following at $143, and baby boomers and Gen Z logging $131 and $126 average monthly refinance savings, respectively. Gen X and baby boomers were tied for the lowest monthly refinance APR at 8.39%, while millennials landed at 8.42%, and Gen Z at 8.50%. Across the board, annual percentage rate (APR) reductions ranged from 3.51 to 5.56 percentage points. "Car payments are one of the biggest monthly expenses for millions of Americans, and for too long, people have assumed they're stuck with the rate they got at the dealership. Our data shows that drivers of all ages can unlock real savings by refinancing. This isn't just some money hack; it's a necessity for many households," said Simon Goodall, CEO of Caribou. While refinancing might pose upfront costs that increase your overall loan cost, Caribou's data shows that generations from baby boomers to Gen Z can benefit from the practice. Higher original loan balances mean larger payments earlier in a borrowing term, but they can also lead to greater savings through refinancing. Caribou's report also illustrates that Gen Z drivers face unique affordability challenges with their pattern of spending larger shares of their monthly income on car payments despite lower loan amounts. Baby boomers exhibited strength in multiple categories on account of their stronger average credit scores. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Miami Herald

3 hours ago

• Miami Herald

Nike fumbles its biggest launch of the year

Nike desperately needs a comeback. Sales are down, and the brand has been grasping for ways to win back the audience it used to own - especially women. In the past few months, it's shuffled leadership, made sweeping organizational changes, and promised a new era. But there's been one initiative everyone has watched more closely than the rest. Related: Nike's house is not in order, and customers may pay the price This wasn't just a product drop. It was supposed to be a cultural reset, the kind of launch that makes headlines and stirs hype on TikTok before a single item even hits the site. A move that signals Nike gets it - that it can keep pace with the brands Gen Z and Millennial women actually want to wear. Internally, it was treated like a major turning point. And externally, anticipation was sky-high. But without warning, the launch is off the calendar. No update. No rollout. Just a quiet delay, and a whole lot of unanswered questions. And that's a this was the one drop Nike couldn't afford to miss. Image source: Nike/Skims The highly anticipated NikeSKIMS line, a collaboration with Kim Kardashian's $4 billion shapewear empire SKIMS, has been officially delayed. Nike then-President of Consumer and Marketplace Heidi O'Neill had said the partnership, originally scheduled to launch this spring, brought together the best of both brands, "unlock[ing] an incredible opportunity to disrupt the industry with our shared passion and commitment to innovation." The line is now expected to debut later this year, according to Bloomberg. No new date has been confirmed, and the delay wasn't caused by suppliers or shipping issues. Instead, it was an internal decision, one Nike and Kardashian made to "get the product right." Related: Nike delivers bad news for customers "We will invite even more athletes into sport and movement with product that makes them feel strong and sexy," the company said. The line was supposed to include apparel, footwear, and accessories. But in the time since it was announced, O'Neill - a key architect of the partnership - has exited the company. Meanwhile, Nike's new CEO, Elliott Hill, has been doubling down on the SKIMS partnership as a high-stakes brand revival strategy. But now, with no launch in sight, that strategy is looking shakier by the day. This delay wouldn't be such a big deal if Nike wasn't already under so much pressure. Nike's third-quarter revenues were $11.3 billion, down 9% from the same time last year, according to its recent earnings report. Meanwhile, Nike (NKE) stock has declined nearly 20% year to date, and investor sentiment continues to weaken. That kind of context turns a simple delay into something louder...a major red flag in the middle of an attempted reinvention. It also raises questions about internal alignment. If this was the moment to reconnect with the female consumer, what happened behind the scenes to justify hitting pause? Nike maintains the partnership is strong. But now it's facing the tough task of rebuilding buzz around a launch that's already lost momentum. And when the SKIMS line finally lands, let's hope the moment hasn't passed Nike by. Related: Kim Kardashian's billion-dollar brand just made a major move The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.

Bloomberg

8 hours ago

• Bloomberg

Gen Z Has Virtually No Excuse for Financial Illiteracy

The financial behaviors of Gen Z have been nothing if not consistent over the last few years. They routinely create trends about the merits of spending while you're young and fun. A few years ago, it was posting the text 'I'll make my money back, but I'll never…' with some image of a perceived once-in-a-lifetime experience. Now, the cohort is increasingly participating in ' doom spending ' — a form of retail therapy that helps consumers cope with everyday stresses — more than older generations. It dovetails with another troubling trend: Almost half of Gen Z – 49% – has decided saving for the future is pointless, according to a late May Credit Karma survey. These choices exemplify poor money management skills, a reality that has led Gen Z to blame schools for not teaching them more about how to manage their finances effectively. But of all the generations, Gen Z is the one with no right to complain about the lack of access to personal finance education in school. If any generation had a chance to teach themselves, it is them.