Dear readers,

Here are some quick ‘did you know’ facts about Spain and the Netherlands:

There are just over 20 million bicycles in the Netherlands, and there are 16.7 million people living there
Spain dries just over 39 million hams a year, and the country is home to 40.5 million
The per capita beer consumption in the Netherlands is 20.5 gallons
The per capita beer consumption in Spain is 22.3 gallons
The per capita wine consumption in the Netherlands is 5.7 gallons
The per capita wine consumption in Spain is 8.7 gallons of wine

To put that in perspective, the per capital wine consumption in the USA is 2.6 gallons!!! We have a long way to go and tremendous growth to be realized.

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Now how about the 2010 World Cup and Spain as world champions?!  What a wonderful victory for Spain.

How much do you think Spain’s world cup victory will affect Spain’s economy? A Spanish national newspaper was quoted as saying, “Spain’s run in the World Cup will deliver only a brief surge in consumer spending.” I disagree. Winning the World Cup could be exactly what it takes to pull this country out of one of the worst economic slump in its history.

The same newspaper was quoted as saying, “The tournament has lifted spirits among fans hit by the country’s worst recession in decades, which has resulted in surging unemployment and slumping growth, pay cuts, the housing crisis, credit-rating downgrades, subway strikes and a hamstrung government. For Spain, which never before made it to a World Cup final, the match could be its biggest sporting achievement in history and its main marketing event since the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.”

“It’s more important than the economy, than potatoes, than olive oil, than (worker) strikes,” said Eduardo Lorenzo Conde, a retired Madrid worker, who adds that he prefers bullfights to soccer.

Becoming soccer’s world champion would have a very positive effect on the so-called “Spain brand,” particularly after the economy contracted close to 4% last year, said José María Romero, senior consultant at Madrid-based consultancy, Equipo Económico, before the World Cup finals.

So far this year, the IBEX-35, the key index of the battered Spanish stock market, has been the world’s worst performer, next to Greece; however, it has been on a mini-rally since July 3, when Spain beat Paraguay to advance to the semifinals. It has closed higher for the past six sessions, and above the key 10,000 point mark for the first time in nearly three weeks the day after Spain beat Germany.

Most big sporting events deliver a predictable bump in business: Pizza sales are expected to jump 40% on Sunday, according to Telepizza, a Madrid chain, which will have a staff of 14,000 on duty during the match, and other companies predict increases as well.

There’s no question this victory will have a tremendous impact on Spain’s economy. The Spain brand has really been boosted all throughout the world, which will certainly act as free advertising for all of the country’s products as well as further boost tourism. After Nadal won the 2010 Wimbledon and now world champions in soccer ,what’s next? Viva Espana!

Entender es Disfrutar!

~Josh

P.S.- We’re still taking party theme ideas for our upcoming event in NYC! Best idea wins a FREE case of wine!