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 are typical bonded warehousing and logistics costs in the Netherlands, and how do they compare to UK rates?
Members shared specific rates from a Netherlands provider to help with cost planning. Dutch bonded warehouse charges typically break down as follows: - **Landing charges** — approximately €140 for 20 pallets - **Storage charges** — €1.35 per pallet per week - **Order preparation** — €20 to €80 depending on complexity These figures are from **Lis Logistics** and reflect pricing before a cost increase earlier in the year. Members note that per-pallet costs vary significantly depending on volume and operational complexity, so it's worth getting custom quotes rather than relying on these benchmarks alone. Alternatively, **Toorank** in Zevenaar was mentioned as another option worth exploring for Dutch warehousing.
How can UK wine sellers navigate Greek customs requirements when shipping to commercial restaurants without excise licenses?
Greek customs can block wine shipments to commercial establishments (restaurants, etc.) if the receiving business lacks an excise license or warehouse facility, even if they hold valid RORI and VAT numbers. This appears to be a stricter enforcement than in previous years. **Practical steps members recommend:** - **Engage a dedicated customs agent** — Members strongly advise appointing a Greek customs broker or agent familiar with Greek customs systems; they may have workarounds or know how to navigate the excise requirement. - **Source a Greek importer contact** — Having a Greek-based importer or distributor partner with proper excise credentials can facilitate clearance. Ask within the Kindred network for introductions; several members have Greek contacts willing to help. - **Contact Olivier Ward** — Named as a potential go-to contact who may be able to help solve this issue directly. **Key caveat:** Shipping wine direct from a French vineyard to Greek restaurants without proper licensing structures is proving harder than direct UK shipments were in previous years, suggesting Greek customs enforcement has tightened. The excise license / warehouse requirement appears to be a real blocker that may require either the restaurant clients to obtain an excise number, or routing the shipment through a licensed Greek distributor or importer.
What is the process for claiming back excise duty on drinks products when exporting to the EU?
The community acknowledges this is a legitimate but time-intensive process. Members recommend weighing the administrative burden against the financial return before pursuing a claim. **Getting expert help:** Rather than navigating HMRC claims alone, members suggest connecting with someone who handles excise duty claims regularly. Members have offered to introduce contacts who manage this process for drinks businesses. **Key consideration:** The effort required to gather documentation and manage the claim process may not justify the recovery amount for smaller export volumes. Factor in your time cost against the actual duty reclaim value before committing resources.
Do I need an export licence to ship alcoholic beverages to EU countries?
No formal export licence is required for most alcoholic beverages (such as gin) shipped to EU countries, though you will need an **EORI number** (Economic Operator Registration and Identification) registered with HMRC. Members' practical experience: - **EORI number** — Required; register with HMRC before shipping - **FedEx** — Recommended by members for EU shipments; described as "very reliable" - Sample shipments are generally straightforward to arrange Note: Individual EU member states may have different regulatory requirements, so confirm with your specific destination country (e.g. Portugal) before shipping. The EORI number is the key administrative requirement on the UK side.