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Cheshire cheesemaker says business left with £250,000 'Brexit hole'
Simon Spurrell says his firm lost 20% of sales and will switch £1m investment to France
Richard Buxton, Simon Spurrell, Laurence Bass.
Simon Spurrell (centre) said the loss in sales came after discovering he needed to provide a £180 health certificate on retail orders to consumers in the EU. Photograph: Stephen Rowson/Simon Spurrell
Lisa O'Carroll Brexit correspondent
[MENTION=15212]lisa[/MENTION]ocarroll
Sat 23 Jan 2021 08.28 GMT
3,355
A commercial cheesemaker in Cheshire has been left with a £250,000 Brexit hole in his business as a direct result of the UK’s departure from the EU on 1 January.
Simon Spurrell said he has lost 20% of his sales overnight after discovering he needed to provide a £180 health certificate on retail orders to consumers in the EU, including those buying personal gift packs of his award-winning wax-wrapped cheese worth £25 or £30.
He says he had hoped to take part in the “sunny uplands” promised by the government post-Brexit but has instead seen the viability of his online retail come to a “dead stop”.
“Our business had high hopes of continued growth in the EU market, after seeing the avoidance of the no-deal and announcement of a free trade deal.
Simon Spurrell says his firm lost 20% of sales and will switch £1m investment to France
Richard Buxton, Simon Spurrell, Laurence Bass.
Simon Spurrell (centre) said the loss in sales came after discovering he needed to provide a £180 health certificate on retail orders to consumers in the EU. Photograph: Stephen Rowson/Simon Spurrell
Lisa O'Carroll Brexit correspondent
[MENTION=15212]lisa[/MENTION]ocarroll
Sat 23 Jan 2021 08.28 GMT
3,355
A commercial cheesemaker in Cheshire has been left with a £250,000 Brexit hole in his business as a direct result of the UK’s departure from the EU on 1 January.
Simon Spurrell said he has lost 20% of his sales overnight after discovering he needed to provide a £180 health certificate on retail orders to consumers in the EU, including those buying personal gift packs of his award-winning wax-wrapped cheese worth £25 or £30.
He says he had hoped to take part in the “sunny uplands” promised by the government post-Brexit but has instead seen the viability of his online retail come to a “dead stop”.
“Our business had high hopes of continued growth in the EU market, after seeing the avoidance of the no-deal and announcement of a free trade deal.