PUB chain WETHERSPOON
is to
STOP SELLING WINE AND BEER
FROM
FRANCE and GERMANY
AHEAD OF
BREXIT
It will focus on offering more beverages from the UK and non EU producers across its 880 from JULY 9,2018.
Champagne and German wheat beers will be switched for English sparkling wine and craft beers in the run-up to leaving the EU.
But Kopparberg cider, which is currently made in Sweden, will stay stocked after the Swedish firm said it will switch production to the UK.
JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin said:
'This is the start of a review of all our products in the next six to 24 months, with the object of making our business more competitive.'
He said tariffs imposed by the 'protectionist' EU were keeping prices high for UK consumers.
Some 2million people visit Wetherspoon pubs every week
The group sells more than 6million bottles of Kopparberg and 2million bottles of sparkling wine and prosecco every year, but fewer than 100,000 bottles of champagne are bought at its pubs.
In place of French fizz, the pubs will offer UK sparkling wine brands Denbies and Whitedowns as well as Australian Hardy wines. Meanwhile UK brewed wheat beers Blue Moon,Belguim White, Thornbridge Versa Weisse and mSA Braines Atlantic White will replace German brands such as Erdinger.
Russ Mould, investment director at saving firm AJ Bell, said
'Tim Martin's strong held political views are well known and you have to respect anyone's ability to stick to their principles so firmly.
'Excluding popular brands of drinks based on their country of origin seems an unusual move for a firm which you would think wants to be seen as inclusive and welcoming to customers of all views and beliefs, but Mr Martin knows his customers and has successfully built the firm by providing
VALUE FOR MONEY.
Mr Martin said Brexit would create big marking opportunities for UK and non-EU producers, which the pub group is keen to encourage.
The Wetherspoon chairman added: 'The products awe are introducing are at a lower prices than EU products they are replacing.
'We intend to honour existing contracts with EU suppliers some of which have several years to run, but we are starting to make the transition to
NON-EU TRADE
NOW.
[CHEERS!-MR MARTIN]
*
JUNE 14-2018 |