Setting up UK distribution
If you're a foreign wine producer and you're thinking about exporting to the UK – be careful! This is a very tough market (a) to penetrate in the first place, and (b) to make a profit out of. Look before you leap – see market entry.
Appointing an agent or distributor
If you do want to give it a go, the usual way to start is by appointing a UK-based agent/distributor. See appointing an agent or distributor.
Further down the road
A producer with an established customer base in the UK may decide to change his agent/distributor – see time for a change of agent? Alternatively, he may decide he can dispense with his agent or distributor, and take control of UK distribution himself going forward. There are several options.
Direct selling
In an ideal world a producer would be able to sell directly to UK customers without having any presence or establishment in the UK. If he has a small number of large customers that may be possible, although some customers won't want to have the liabilities and responsibilities of an importer. See regulatory matters.
Directly employing sales personnel in the UK
A foreign producer can have an employee or employees in the UK, and that might have some attractions, but ..........
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