Mark Gillespie’s Post

The #beer industry is a key contributor to the European economy, directly impacting the local communities where #brewers operate. To effectively support the 10,000 breweries across the EU, policymakers must pursue a more progressive excise tax framework that is fair to beer versus stronger alcohol categories and, while respecting subsidiarity, recognises the merits of nudging consumers towards lower alcohol beverages and the socio-economic value generated by brewing from the local to the European level. Read our Manifesto to learn more 👉 https://loom.ly/Mu0R0pk #EUElections2024 #BeerFuture

While the UK has temporarly frozen excise increases, Canada have really nailed it for independent craft brewers; excise halved on the first 1.5mL of beer brewed! The Canadian government clearly understands the jobs at risk and the crippling impact high inflation and excise increases has had. I know the Independent Brewers Association are onto this and ensuring our pollies understand that our global peers are taking action.. Australia & NZ need to follow asap. #craftbeer #beerindustry https://lnkd.in/g3m9AH75

If you are in the wine trade or hospitality you should read this excellent synopsis by Hal Wilson The proposed changes are going to have irreversible impacts on the industry.HM Revenue & Customs HM Treasury Wine and Spirit Trade Association

With headlines across the media landscape discussing possible 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada, I found myself wondering how that may affect our event menus and the price availability of ingredients we use the most. According to the USDA's Economic Research Service, almost 3/4 of agricultural imports from Mexico consist of fresh fruits & vegetables, like avocados, tomatoes, strawberries and raspberries, and spirits, including beer, tequila and mezcal. (see the chart below, and I'll link the source in comments). As we plan for 2025 & beyond, it's tempting to ignore headlines like this until they have direct and immediate impact, but it's best to begin thinking about the possible additional costs to our events and programs as soon as possible. #eventplanning #eventbudgeting #menuplanning

We are very pleased that the industry has been listened to and that after numerous conversations and a lot of work to demonstrate the benefits of this proposal and the potential failures of previously suggested models, that there are now opportunities (should the States of Jersey approve them) for small distillers within the Channel Islands to be able to compete with larger imported producers. We want locals to be able to more easily choose ‘local’ over ‘imported’. We want visitors to be able to taste, enjoy and purchase ‘local’ over ‘imported’ and we want economic and creative growth within small distillers. This proposal delivers them the same economic advantages as small brewers and small cider producers have had for a number of years. https://lnkd.in/eGXYsp-W

American Wine, something to think about. For a wine to be labelled American, it can still contain up to 25% of foreign wine. Think about this for a second... then think about all the bulk wine coming to the US... then think about the tax incentives as recently laid out in this interesting article. https://lnkd.in/gRPt4CbZ The list of producers benefiting from the government subsidies is a whose who of the large US producers. Maybe this helps answer some questions about US producers struggling to find big buyers for their fruit, and a market that continues to shrink with more vines being pulled out. By comparison: - Chile is 0% - Australian wine is less than 5%.  - New Zealand wine up to 5% - The EU (Spain, France, Italy) it is 14-15% - Argentina 15% (and there are no tax subsidies in these countries to bring in foreign wine) #taxsubsidies #americanwine #wineindustry #unfaircompetion #craftwine Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau U.S. Department of the Treasury Wine Institute Craft Wine Association Family Winemakers Of Ca California State Senate

While doing some research for a possible new book, I found myself drawn to historic Irish whiskey export figures. Anyone interested in Irish whiskey will know that its growth in recent years has been nothing short of incredible. But it's only when you look at the data that you really get a full appreciation. Irish whiskey sales to the US provide the best example of this. In 1952 only 28,942 proof gallons of Irish whiskey were imported into the US ** (Source: Liquor Handbook). Using a conversion provided by the American Craft Spirits Association we can convert this into an equivalent case figure (12 × 750ml bottles). This gives a total of just 12,220 cases. By 1982 just over 200,000 cases of Irish whiskey were exported to the US. Fast forward 40 years and we see that in 2022 Irish whiskey sales to the US amounted to 5,848,300 cases (Source: ISWR). This means that over a period of 70 years the category grew its exports to the US by 47,858%!! That is quite something. ** This figure is for Republic of Ireland only #irishwhiskey #irishwhisky #whiskey

EU beer production drops 5%. A new study published by Eurostat shows 2023 production volumes of alcoholic beer down 5% compared to 2022, at 32.5 billion litres. Germany and Poland remained the EU's top producers, with a combined 23.2% of total EU production, followed closely by the Netherlands and Belgium. Among the EU countries, France registered 17.1% of total imports from within the EU region, with the Netherlands accounting for 21.5% of exports within the member countries. In contrast, 'no and low' varieties have continued to grow in popularity, with production up 13.5% from 2022, and expected to rise again in 2024. #Beer #EU #Brewing #Operations #Alcohol

When I saw that draft beverage sales have dropped by 30-40%, I was worried for small local breweries. These potential new TTB regulations could be another serious challenge. But what can we do to help? First, stay informed. Understanding these changes and how they might impact your brewery is crucial. Next, get involved in the conversation. The Brewers Association has been a strong advocate, but we need more voices from the community to speak up now, before these regulations are set in stone. If you're unsure about where to start or how to prepare, don't hesitate to reach out. Jillian Noble is offering 15-minute consultations to help breweries navigate this potential regulatory landscape. Let’s ensure that small breweries not only survive but thrive in the face of these changes. Schedule your consult here: https://lnkd.in/e9RcNvkU #CraftBeer #BrewingCommunity #TTBRegulations #SupportLocalBreweries #BreweryConsulting