The people behind the process: Salvatore Meleleo

At Hillebrand Gori, expertise isn’t just about moving shipments - it’s about anticipating industry changes and guiding customers through complex regulations. When new U.S. regulations required all importers of organic products to attain an organic wine certification, Salvatore Meleleo, VP of Customs Brokerage, USA, and his team was ahead of the curve. His proactive approach not only helped customers stay compliant but also gave them an easy path to attaining a certification. Here’s his story, and how he and his team uphold our mission to make beverage logistics easy, contributing to making us a ‘Provider of Choice’.

The challenge: navigating new organic wine certification import regulations

For many beverage importers, the change in U.S. regulation requiring an organic wine certification for organic imports came as a surprise. Many were unaware of the requirement and had no idea where to begin the certification process. Without correct compliance, they risked delays, fines and even the inability to import their organic wines.

Recognizing this gap, Salvatore and his team acted swiftly to educate the industry and develop a streamlined solution that would take the burden off importers.

To find out more about the Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) Rule launched but the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) click here.

The solution: education, organic wine certification and expert support

Salvatore led a multi-pronged initiative to ensure that beverage importers could easily navigate the new certification requirement. His approach included:

Industry education: He launched an awareness campaign via email and social media, so that customers and other importers understood the new rules.

Webinar outreach: In January 2024, Hillebrand Gori also hosted a webinar on organic wine certification, that had over 100 attendees eager to learn how to stay compliant.

Seamless certification process: Salvatore established a referral program with an experienced organic certifier, making it easy for importers to complete their organic wine certification and minimizing potential disruption to shipments already in transit.

The results: a competitive advantage and increased revenue

Staying ahead of industry changes reinforced Hillebrand Gori’s position as the go-to customs brokerage expert for beverage importers. Salvatore’s leadership and the team’s deep industry knowledge set us apart from competitors, and provided these customer benefits:

A quick and easy path to compliance – Navigating new regulations can be overwhelming, but with Hillebrand Gori, importers had an easy transition. By partnering with an experienced organic certifier, we provided a direct, seamless and fully supported path to attaining a certification. This eliminated confusion and uncertainty, while ensuring compliance.

Expanded services for long-term success – Many importers who turned to Hillebrand Gori for their organic wine certification quickly recognized the broader value of working with a partner who truly understands the complexities of wine logistics and U.S. regulations. As a result, many of them now entrust Salvatore and his team with their full customs brokerage needs, creating a stronger, more efficient supply chain for their business.

Dedicated expert support, every step of the way – Importers never had to figure it out alone. Salvatore and his team acted as an extension of their business, guiding them through the process with tailored advice, hands-on assistance and a proactive approach that kept their shipments moving. From initial education to final organic wine certification, our team made compliance easy.

By removing barriers to compliance, simplifying complex regulations and delivering exceptional service, Hillebrand Gori helped importers not just meet new requirements, but thrive in a changing landscape. They did this while making sure their business operations remained on-time, efficient and compliant.

Need help with international organic wine transport?

Regulations are always evolving, but we can help you to navigate them. Whether it’s organic wine certification, customs brokerage or compliance support, we are experts who can support you. Compliance is a part of the overall process of moving wines, beers and spirits from one country to another. We provide an end-to-end solution that covers everything from collection to delivery.  For more information, contact your local office.

Reviewed by Hillebrand Gori