Ask the Collective
The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
What customs brokers or logistics partners should we use to handle Brexit customs clearance for glass bottle imports from the EU?
Post-Brexit, importing glass bottles from EU countries requires customs clearance paperwork that your glass manufacturer's logistics partner may not handle—you'll likely need a dedicated customs broker or freight forwarder familiar with the new regulations. Members recommend: - **Mannson** (https://mannson.com) — used for Far East logistics and reportedly handles European road freight too - **Transmec** (contact: Idavis@transmecgroup.com) — costs approximately £50 per delivery and can handle Brexit customs documentation - Check with your glass manufacturer's existing logistics company first — they may already offer customs clearance services One member mentioned **Saverglass** as a potential source of peer recommendations if you're using their bottles. When coordinating with your forwarder, consider stacking optimisation (double or multiple layers per pallet, adjusting pallet count) to maximise efficiency on road shipments.
What logistics and shipping challenges are members facing for EU-to-UK shipments, and what solutions or workarounds exist?
Members report significant disruption to EU-to-UK freight due to COVID-19, Brexit and a global container shortage. Obtaining reliable quotes and securing hauliers is taking weeks. **Key challenges reported:** - Container shortage is causing "worldwide chaos" and dramatically extending lead times - Securing haulers from the EU to the UK is unreliable; members are being told it's "a nightmare" - Quote turnaround is slow (4+ weeks for a single quote is typical) - Pricing has spiked significantly—one member received a quote from Italy to the US at 3× expected cost - Collection times from EU suppliers are now running 4+ weeks to get a single pallet to the UK **Workarounds mentioned:** - Members recommend casting a "wide net" with multiple freight contacts to increase chances of securing capacity and competitive pricing **Caveats:** While members acknowledge these are real, industry-wide constraints rather than individual supplier failures, no specific recommended logistics partners or alternative routes were shared in the discussion. The consensus is to expect delays and higher costs as the new normal for EU-UK shipments.
What logistics providers work best for shipping alcohol samples to Europe after Brexit?
Members report that **DHL** has been reliable for small-volume sample shipments to Europe post-Brexit. DHL handles import tax administration and adds the cost to your courier account; you then pay the combined fee. The service has also worked smoothly for samples to other regions like Hong Kong. Key advantages noted: - DHL manages customs and tax documentation - Costs are consolidated on your account for easy tracking - Suitable for small sample volumes
Should you use EXW or FCA incoterms when selling spirits to export markets post-Brexit?
**FCA is now the preferred incoterm for post-Brexit export sales.** While EXW places responsibility for export clearance on the buyer, members' experience and broker advice strongly favours FCA because it allows you to control your own export customs processes and maintain compliance documentation. **Why FCA is recommended:** - **Control of export clearance** — You manage the UK export customs process yourself, rather than relying on the buyer to handle it - **Compliance documentation** — You can ensure HMRC receives the required export clearance documents, including the DTI-S8 form, which is critical if audited - **VAT zero-rating proof** — If your company zero-rates VAT on the invoice, you must be able to provide proof of export. With FCA, you retain sight of all export documents; with EXW, the buyer handles clearance and you may never see the proof - **Industry standard shift** — Members' broker reported that "most of our clients moved away from EXW post Brexit, and ship everything FCA" **Key caveat:** With EXW, the buyer is responsible for UK export clearance, meaning you may never receive copies of the export clearance documents—a significant compliance risk if HMRC audits you. FCA eliminates this exposure by putting you in control of the process.