Irish whiskey exporters could be in for a windfall
Scotch whisky currently dominates sales across Europe, selling more than €1.3 billion each year, with the biggest volume going to France. In fact France is the first market for Scotch whisky in the world.
Although there are more than 20 whisky-producing countries in the world, five nations account for almost all sales on the French market: Scotland, the US, Canada, Ireland and Japan.
Scotland dominates by far the sales, leaving only 15% of the market to other production countries. It is easy to understand why the Scotch Whisky Association has become very vocal in stressing its support for the UK to remain within the EU.
The Association stated more than £1bn (€1.27bn) worth of Scotch whisky exports could be at risk from an industry supporting 40,000 jobs if the UK leaves the EU. Diageo is one of the major brand holders and stands to face major loss of sales of its leading brands sold across Europe such as Johnnie Walker, Bells and J&B.
Diageo, the world’s largest maker of Scotch whisky expressed its strong support for staying within the EU. Chief executive Ivan Menezes, stated recently: ’”Diageo - and specifically our Scotch whisky business - benefits greatly from the UK’s membership of the EU and we strongly believe we should remain within that union.
The Single Market gives us a level playing field and open access across the EU, while the EU’s clout in international trade helps to open up new markets with agreements favourable to the UK, reducing tariffs and resolving trade disputes.’’
The French have taken a particularly strong liking to the wee dram, which now exceeds consumption of the traditional cognac as the aperitif and digestif of choice. Exports of British whisky to France were worth almost £450 million last year with more Scotch sold in one month than cognac in a year.
The main concern for the Scottish whisky producers is outside the EU, top British producers could face bureaucratic barriers when trading with Europe.
The EU single market provides common standards on labelling, certification and licencing - creating a level playing field which makes overseas trade far easier for the highly regulated alcohol industry with its excise, duty and VAT at point-of-entry requirements.
Irish whiskey producers on the other hand, although minnows in the global industry producing approximately 4% of global volume, have been growing rapidly in recent years and could gain extensively in sales to France and across the EU in the event of a Brexit.
However, a Scotch whisky industry outside the EU would inevitably push hard to sell lost volume into the major US market, which is Ireland’s largest market and has been offering double digit growth to Irish whiskey brands over the past few years.
And there are, of course, the potential difficulties in maintaining Irish whiskey sales penetration in the UK after a Brexit , although it is only the sixth largest export market for Irish whiskey.
With or without a Brexit, Irish whiskey is facing major challenges due to rapid worldwide growth in demand for whiskey of all types and origins. Not least of which will be managing the rapid planned expansion to ensure that production from expanding from the established four distilleries to 17 new distilleries meets the required standards.
Although whiskey may be drunk at age three years in practice whiskey is usually only begun to be drunk at four years maturity at a minimum.
With the large capital investment made it will be tempting for distillers to release product as soon as possible to achieve some return.
The sector has recently come together and there is a need to ensure strong co-ordination to manage and market the overall brand.
Protecting the brand is a key issue. As its popularity grows, the opportunities for poorer lesser quality spirits to claim to be Irish whiskey or make references to Irish whiskey will increase.
There is no doubting that Europe has a taste for whiskey, whether it is Scotch or Irish. Of course, in a Brexit there will be winners and losers, but a Scotch industry working within the EU and helping to protect the unique provenance of both Irish whiskey and Scotch whisky is preferable to a potential unregulated situation arising from an exit.
Leaving the EU would be a leap in the dark for the British drinks industry and could lead to years of negotiations on new trade deals not least of which will be with Ireland, with no guarantees at the end.
