Say what?!?!

Steo 1: Open mouth

Step 2: Insert Foot

Step 3: Touch up resumé. Time to look for a new job.

Everybody says something that they don't actually mean once in a while. And usually, especially when speaking, it can/will go without notice. Not so much when your comments are put into print. Here's the entire article:

Number of wine brands to shrink


The wine industry has been warned to expect some brands to be removed from the shelf, as the number of players gets less.

That's the prediction from Fosters Group, which stands to control 38 per cent of the local wine market if it succeeds in taking over Southcorp.

Jamie Odell manages global wine trade for Fosters' Beringer Blass, and says that sort of consolidation will mean some radical changes at the retail end.

"I think if you look at the number of brands which are on the shelf in all markets, not just here in Australia, it is absolutely essential that some brands are taken off the shelf.

"There is too much complexity.

"It's not helping the consumers to make their choices, it's not helping the retailers to manage their supply chain.

"I think regardless of consolidation in the industry that's going to happen, but I think this sort of action and being more proactive will help to accelerate that."

The company may have trouble convincing Southcorp shareholders to sell, though.

Southcorp's board has described the offer of $4.17 as 'inadequate and opportunistic', and the company's share price has risen to $4.61.

It more or less reads like any other 300 word business memo from the financial section of any paper, anywhere. Except for this little bit:

"...it is absolutely essential that some brands are taken off the shelf.

"There is too much complexity."

Who knew five words could mean so much? Of course, I am taking the comments out of context (to some extent), but this sounds like some sort of Freudian slip. I have made jokes about the Aussies, their practices, and the wines that result from them in the past. Maybe, I was a little closer than I thought.