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.
Can a US-based company hold AWRS and WOWGR registrations, or must they be UK-registered?
A US-based company cannot directly hold AWRS and WOWGR registrations—these require a UK-registered business entity. AWRS requires UK VAT registration, which in turn requires a UK-registered business. To hold bonded stock in the UK as an overseas business, you must appoint a UK duty representative, typically a paid service offered by bonded warehouses. Key options if you want to centralise operations to the US: - **Appointing a UK duty representative** — Bonded warehouses like Cadus Vaults can act as duty representatives for overseas businesses, though note this is typically offered for cask storage rather than finished goods inventory. - **Using a logistics-focused distributor** — Members recommend exploring partners like **Proof Drinks** or **Tortuga**, which operate logistics business models (rather than pure agency) and may be able to hold and manage your stock in bond under their UK registration. - **Retaining a UK subsidiary** — If you self-distribute and need to hold stock in bond, you currently cannot shut down your UK subsidiary and retain that stock under a US-only structure. Caveats: The regulations around duty representation and bonded stock are strict. Self-distribution with a centralised US operation appears incompatible with holding bonded inventory in the UK under current arrangements.
Who handles trademark registrations in the UK and what is their service quality like?
Members can handle trademark registrations themselves through the government's IP/TM team, which is based in Wales. This route is significantly easier and more responsive than expected, especially compared to other government agencies like HMRC. The process is straightforward to manage independently, and the team responds promptly when needed.