Page 57 - The Summit of the Americas 2021

INSIDER

2021: Back to normal? this commodity. This is what we know and we can get it done right there. We move
Even as WTDC has diversified this we are good at it. quickly. I think that is one of the reasons
past year, travel retail/duty free spirits “Our competition are these huge we were able to survive the pandemic.
logistics will remain its core business, and multi-national corporations. If you need to Because we saw this business potentially
Gazitua says there is reason for optimism. have a decision done, you have to talk to slowing down and pivoted and started
“Now it is closer to normalcy. In 2021, your supervisor, the manager, the director, handling medical supplies and renewal
business has begun bouncing back. In all the way up the ladder. Here if you want energy. But we are here and we are open
November and December last year higher to get something done you speak to me and for business.”
volumes started leaving the warehouse and
we saw a spike going up. We thought it was
just for the holiday season,” he says.
“But in January, the numbers con-
sistently stayed up and in February the
numbers have remained consistent. Now
that we are in March, the numbers leaving
the warehouse have not gone down. It feels
good to see these numbers of cases leaving
the warehouse. I feel like we are trending
in the right direction. There is some good
news out there. There are orders. We are
busy and we appreciate it.”
Prior to the pandemic, WTDC was
experiencing a record year.
“2019 smashed every other year.
January and February 2020 were incredible WTDC Health & Wellness Program
months. We expected 2020 to be stronger WTDC began its health and wellness program in 2017 with the goal of encouraging all its
than 2019.” employees to adopt a healthy lifestyle, which promotes improved mental and physical wellness.
Gazitua says his family company is During the pandemic, WTDC has expanded this program.
prepared for a return to better times. “We can make sure our employee morale is high. We’ve implemented a health and well-
“We are speaking with companies that ness program, with a multi-purpose health and wellness room. We zoom in there, and when
are interested in coming into the market. we are not using it for zoom it is used for yoga room. We also have a masseuse come every
We have the know-how. We celebrated Wednesday to give massages in our special massage room. We even have a prayer/meditation
44 years in business on March 8. We’ve room. We really believe in having a sound mind, sound body, especially in a year like last year.
been handling spirits for 15 years for this We want to make sure that WTDC is a safe place for our employees. That’s part of being a fam-
market. We know the processes specific to ily business,” says Gazitua.

57 April 2021 The Virtual Summit of the Americas Issue