The Wine and Spirit Trade Association has welcomed the Chancellor’s decision to listen to British business and UK consumers by freezing wine and spirit duty. The announcement comes after a WSTA campaign called on the Chancellor to support the wine and spirit industry after the pandemic led to the “crushing, continuing closure” of the hospitality sector. A freeze will allow businesses to “recover, rebuild, create…

The Portman Group has appointed former senior civil servant Philip Rycroft as its new Chair. Rycroft was most recently the Permenant Secretary to the Department for Exiting the EU. He brings to the role “a rare mix of both business and government experience”, having undertaken senior positions in both the public and private sectors. Rycroft began his civil service career at the Scottish Office in…

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has hit out at the Government for “misleading the public” over claims that EU wine importation costs would be “nil or negligible”. The Government’s claims come months after discussions with the WSTA originally led to an agreement to suspend the costly paperwork. Despite this initial recognition of the burden it would place on UK wine businesses, the WSTA…

In his Budget speech today the Chancellor has announced he is freezing all alcohol duty. The news follows repeated calls from the Wine and Spirit Trade Association and others in the industry to support the wine industry in particular, which was singled out for a duty increase in the last Budget. Responding to the news on Twitter, WSTA chief executive, Miles Beale, said: “All alcohol…

Bristol-based brewer Lost and Grounded has hit back against a Portman Group ruling that deems one of its most popular beers to be “particularly appealing to children”. The brewer said it disagrees with the ruling and has made the decision not to change the product. It has also recruited support from its local MP and the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA). The Portman Group’s Independent…

UK-based wine and spirit SMEs have joined forces to urge the Chancellor to cut wine and spirit duty by 2% to help boost British business. Owners of small and medium-sized wine and spirit businesses have jointly penned a letter to the new Chancellor, Rishi Sunak MP, expressing their concerns over the lack of Government support for SMEs in the UK’s wine and spirit industry. The…