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 typical HMRC approval timeline for transitioning from duty-paid to duty-suspended alcohol production?
Members report the process typically takes around **3 months from start to finish**. **Key points on current regulations:** - New WOWGR (Warehousing of Wine and other Goods Regulations) applications are currently not being processed by HMRC, though existing applications continue to be handled. - WOWGR is only required if using third-party contractors for production and storage; you do not need it to produce duty-suspended goods in your own warehouse. - You still require **Excise Warehouse Approval** even with the WOWGR abolition and transition to the new APPA (Alcohol Packaging and Production Approval). - For specific guidance on registrations and approvals, contact **nruwhseapprovals@hmrc.gov.uk**. **Useful contact:** The British Distillers Alliance (Alan Powell) has been coordinating this transition; members have access to their communications on the regulatory changes. **Caveats:** The regulatory landscape is actively evolving (WOWGR abolition, APPA introduction), and HMRC's processing of new applications was paused recently. Confirm current status directly with HMRC before submission.
What is the typical timeline from initial buyer contact to securing shelf placement in major UK supermarkets?
Members' experiences with supermarket listing timelines vary dramatically, ranging from 3.5 to 7 years from first conversation to shelf placement. **Listing timeline realities:** - Members reported timeframes between **3.5 and 7 years** from initial contact to actual shelf listing at major grocers like Waitrose - One member noted the process "didn't exist" initially (suggesting product development or business setup was also part of the timeline) **Getting the first meeting:** - **Breaking into buyer conversations remains the biggest bottleneck** — members describe experiences of "a ghost town of unanswered emails" and difficulty securing an initial meeting to even present their proposition - One member mentioned **£30k listing fees** as a potential route (though this comment was made somewhat facetiously in the group chat) **Caveats:** The small sample size and tongue-in-cheek tone of some responses suggest these are anecdotal experiences. The variation (3.5–7 years) indicates the timeline depends heavily on product category, buyer relationship, and market conditions. Getting that crucial first buyer conversation appears to be the real challenge, not the negotiation timeline itself.