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 is the best approach and cost for renewing trademark registrations in the UK and Europe?
Trademark renewal is straightforward DIY in the UK but requires more careful navigation for EU protection post-Brexit. Members report significant cost variation depending on whether you handle it yourself or use legal support. **UK trademark renewal:** - **DIY via the official UK Intellectual Property Office website** — several members completed this themselves and found it manageable with internet research; no lawyer needed - **Lawyer quotes** — expect £900 + VAT for UK-only renewal through traditional IP lawyers (though this appears on the higher end) **EU trademark renewal (post-Brexit):** - **DIY via Madrid Protocol** — members recommend registering the original trademark in the UK first, then applying for the Madrid Protocol to cover multiple countries in one application; described as "easier" than handling each country separately - **Polish lawyer option** — one member recommended a lawyer in Poland who can handle all EU countries for under £500, significantly cheaper than UK law firm quotes - **Processing time** — expect approximately 6 weeks turnaround from placing the order **Strategic considerations:** - Members suggest protecting your brand across export markets proactively, even if you haven't actively exported yet, to prevent future brand conflicts (one member cited a costly dispute when a competitor launched a similar product) - The Madrid Protocol approach allows you to cover multiple EU countries "in one hit," reducing administrative complexity **Caveat:** The lawyer quotes in the excerpts (£1,800 + VAT for UK and Europe; £900 + VAT for UK only) appear to be at the premium end; the Polish lawyer route and DIY options suggest these are not competitive market rates.
What are the UK commodity codes and customs procedure codes needed for importing spirits from the EU post-Brexit?
Post-Brexit spirit imports from the EU require both a commodity code and a customs procedure code (CPC). Members found the process significantly more complex than pre-Brexit. **Resources and codes:** - **UK Trade Tariff** (gov.uk/trade-tariff) — the official government tool for looking up commodity codes for imports; includes options for different container sizes (spirits over 2L have specific codes) - **Customs Procedure Code 0700000** — mentioned as the likely CPC for spirit imports, though members noted this is the area where complexity lies ("box 37" references suggest detailed customs declaration requirements) **Caveats:** Members found the CPC lookup particularly challenging and non-intuitive. The Trade Tariff tool is the authoritative source, but members recommend consulting it carefully and potentially seeking specialist customs advice if the procedural code isn't immediately clear. One member flagged that even experienced importers found box 37 (part of the customs declaration form) confusing.
What practical steps should UK spirits brands take with labelling and business registration when selling into EU markets after Brexit?
UK brands selling to the EU post-Brexit need to navigate labelling and business structure requirements carefully. Members' experience suggests the following approach works: - **EU warehouse registration** — Several members operate successfully via an EU-registered business entity (e.g. in the Netherlands), which significantly reduces rejection risk at borders. This appears to be the most reliable route. - **Label address switching** — Once you have an EU registered business, add that address to the back label rather than the UK business address. This simple change has prevented stock rejections for members who implemented it. - **Invoicing from EU entity** — Members report that simply adding the EU address to the label and continuing operations "as per" (without separate bank accounts or formal accounts) has worked; however, confirmation on whether formal invoicing from the EU company is legally required would be worth verifying with your accountant. - **Stock rejection risk** — At least one established brand (Chase) had stock turned away from Spain and Italy immediately post-Brexit, suggesting early implementation of the EU entity structure is advisable to avoid delays. **Caveat:** The discussion suggests practical workarounds rather than definitive legal guidance. Members recommend speaking to your accountant about formal invoicing and accounting requirements for an EU-registered entity, as the excerpts don't fully clarify those obligations.
How complex is sourcing ingredients from the EU post-Brexit, and what logistics challenges should we expect?
Post-Brexit EU sourcing has been mixed: some members report it's been straightforward with minimal extra cost, while others face significant delays on less common routes. **Key findings from recent experience:** - **Direct EU suppliers (e.g. German botanicals and flavour houses)** — When suppliers arrange shipping and handle import declarations themselves, the process is surprisingly smooth and quick. Members report the transporter typically handles all customs paperwork, often with no significant extra cost. Lead times can actually be faster than pre-Brexit in some cases. - **Specialty logistics routes** — Niche routes (e.g. Estonia, smaller EU destinations) are currently problematic. **Hillebrand** expects 3–4 months before they can resume service on non-major routes. **Wineflow** is only servicing major routes at the moment and cannot provide timelines for smaller destinations. - **Monthly/regular shipments to major EU hubs** — Regular business to established routes (e.g. Netherlands) continues to operate normally. **Caveats:** Members note mixed experiences—some shipments arrive without issue, others face extended delays depending on destination and supplier. The complexity varies significantly by route and supplier willingness to handle declarations. It's worth confirming with each supplier whether they manage import paperwork or expect you to handle it.
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.