Brexit for Cheese - Part 3

Nov 18 2022 The Guardian

“Prohibitive export charges and paperwork have shattered the bright future promised to small British businesses like mine”

Simon Spurrell is director of the Cheshire Cheese Company

I once sold cheese to Europe. Brexit took my business to the brink of destruction

This is the third part of this saga - Part 2 can be found here Brexit for Cheese - Part 2

“We have been lucky enough to have found a solution: our company was recently bought out by Britain’s largest maker of Cheshire cheese. The third-generation family business has taken a majority stake in our business and provided us with security, growth and – most importantly – a gateway back to the EU via their Netherlands hub.”

“The cost and complexity of shipping, along with the navigation of the bureaucracy due to each country in the EU interpreting the Brexit deal differently makes it incredibly difficult for small businesses to export to the EU. Small businesses in the UK contribute 45% of the annual turnover, yet we have been made the victims in every trade deal that has been negotiated. No consideration has been given for our contribution to the economy or any support to gain a practical route to export markets. The period since Brexit has been devastating for us, destroying all plans we had for any great future in Europe, one that we were promised.”