Future Retirement Success
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks

Future Retirement Success

Business

Wine shortage fears after bottling workers go on strike at key UK facility

by June 20, 2025
June 20, 2025
Wine shortage fears after bottling workers go on strike at key UK facility

Wine drinkers could face supermarket shortages this summer after workers at the UK’s largest wine bottling plant voted to go on strike in a dispute over pay and conditions.

The Encirc plant in Bristol, which bottles nearly 300 million litres of wine a year and supplies all major UK supermarkets, will see industrial action from Thursday until July 5, union Unite has confirmed. The site handles around 40 per cent of the UK’s wine bottling, including products for 18 of the top 20 wine brands sold in Britain—such as Hardys, Villa Maria, McGuigan, and celebrity-backed labels from Graham Norton and Sarah Jessica Parker.

The strike will involve 200 workers, with Unite organising staggered walkouts across different parts of the business to maximise disruption. While immediate shortages are unlikely due to stockpiling and industry lead times, insiders warn that if the dispute is prolonged, wine containers arriving at UK ports could start backing up, with supply disruptions expected later in the summer.

John Sweeney, regional officer at Unite, said: “There is no doubt that this action will hit supermarket shelves. While shortages may be frustrating for customers looking to enjoy a bottle of wine this summer, the situation is entirely of Encirc’s own making.”

At the heart of the dispute is a 3.2 per cent pay rise offer from Encirc, owned by Spanish parent company Vidrala, alongside proposals to link future pay increases to inflation and remove collective bargaining rights—moves the union says would allow the company to impose terms without negotiation.

Unite’s general secretary Sharon Graham described the company’s stance as a case of corporate greed rather than financial necessity.

“Encirc’s meanness to its workers is all about greed and not need,” she said. “We will not stand idly by and allow Encirc to steal our members’ hard-won rights. Encirc workers deserve better and they have our full support throughout this dispute.”

The Encirc plant plays a crucial role in the UK wine supply chain, especially for new world wines, which are imported in large shipping containers and bottled locally to reduce both costs and carbon emissions. The company’s Bristol facility is regarded as one of the most sustainable of its kind globally, operating with zero waste and powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity.

In a statement, Encirc said it was “incredibly disappointed” with the strike and defended its pay offer, noting that the current proposal would mean wages had risen by over 16 per cent in less than two years at the Bristol site.

“We have worked hard to not only uplift pay and conditions, but to create a truly great place to work,” the company said. “We remain open to dialogue with the union in good faith and are doing all we can to mitigate any impact on supply.”

Industry insiders say rival bottling facilities — such as Kingsland and Greencroft — may be able to ramp up production to reduce pressure, but it remains unclear whether they can fill the potential gap if the strike is prolonged.

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association and several major supermarkets have been approached for comment. For now, retailers and consumers alike are watching closely — with summer wine shelves potentially at risk of running dry.

Read more:
Wine shortage fears after bottling workers go on strike at key UK facility

0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Inheritance‑tax take hits £1.5bn in two months as flight of non‑doms casts doubt on future revenues
next post
UK borrowing falls in May after higher tax on businesses

You may also like

Business leaders paralysed by risk warn BDO as...

June 9, 2025

Brexit: business success beyond the borders

April 26, 2024

Mike Ashley scores in £17m deal to buy...

November 18, 2022

An In-Depth Conversation with Alison Schrag: Exploring Urban...

January 10, 2025

UK economy exits recession with fastest pace of...

May 10, 2024

Government’s spending surge to trigger significant tax rises,...

June 11, 2025

Institute of Directors Introduces Code of Conduct for...

June 7, 2024

Rayner sets ambitious housing targets in planning overhaul

July 31, 2024

How casinos deal with gambling addiction

November 2, 2022

Getting to Know You: Gareth Lloyd, Co-Founder, White...

October 17, 2023

    Get free access to all of the retirement secrets and income strategies from our experts! or Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get the Premium Articles Acess for Free

    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • Duffy just got an additional job in Trump’s administration, and he’s not the only one wearing multiple hats

      July 11, 2025
    • ‘It will happen quickly’: State Dept poised to act after Supreme Court green-lights agency layoffs

      July 10, 2025
    • Hegseth tears up red tape, orders Pentagon to begin drone surge at Trump’s command

      July 10, 2025
    • SCOOP: Sen Ron Johnson readies subpoenas for FBI, DOJ in Butler shooting probe

      July 10, 2025
    • Jackson defends controversial, fiery SCOTUS dissents as telling people ‘how I feel’

      July 10, 2025
    • How to Find Compelling Charts in Every Sector

      July 10, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (8,444)
    • Investing (2,115)
    • Politics (16,002)
    • Stocks (3,199)
    • About us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: futureretirementsuccess.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 futureretirementsuccess.com | All Rights Reserved