Policy to help promote sale of ‘Made in UP' wines in retail stores soon
Lucknow: The state excise department is planning to make it mandatory for retailers to start stocking indigenous wines produced from fruits grown in UP on their shelves.
Acting on the representation forwarded by the vintners (winery owners and operators), the department will soon present the proposal before the state cabinet to amend the existing policy and rules to create a minimum quota to promote its retail trade.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The four winery operators in Lucknow, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, and Noida would benefit from the move, as would hundreds of local farmers within the catchment area.
Though provisions were made in the excise policy to start manufacturing wine from locally produced fruits in March 2022, the commercial operations of the wineries are yet to begin in the state.
"The idea behind introducing local wine was to help farmers generate increased income.
But until our products find space in the retail ecosystem, achieving financial viability will not be possible," said Muzaffarnagar-based Sanjay Gupta, who desperately wants to enter the retail market with five different local wines produced from mango, litchi, jamun, grapes, and mixed fruits for a year.
Since the UP govt decided not to impose excise duty on 'Made in UP' wines, retailers showed no interest in stocking the products in the stores.
"Every retailer has to provide a fixed income to the excise department through the liquor trade.
Called MGQ (minimum guarantee quota), it is mandatory for retailers to purchase a minimum quantity of liquor bottles in a month to assure a certain fixed revenue to the state," said a Lucknow-based retailer.
Over the sale of country liquor, English wine, and beer bottles, a hefty portion of the price is paid as excise duty to the state coffers, helping retailers achieve the MGQ.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
As the sale of local wine would not generate any excise duty for the state, retailers will not be able to achieve MGQ in return.
"That is why no retailer shows interest in stocking local wines and instead focuses on the products which have higher demand," the retailer added.
A senior excise officer said provisions need to be made in the existing policy to create a sub-quota within the MGQ to promote local wine.
Lucknow: The state excise department is planning to make it mandatory for retailers to start stocking indigenous wines produced from fruits grown in UP on their shelves.
Acting on the representation forwarded by the vintners (winery owners and operators), the department will soon present the proposal before the state cabinet to amend the existing policy and rules to create a minimum quota to promote its retail trade.
The four winery operators in Lucknow, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, and Noida would benefit from the move, as would hundreds of local farmers within the catchment area.
Though provisions were made in the excise policy to start manufacturing wine from locally produced fruits in March 2022, the commercial operations of the wineries are yet to begin in the state.
"The idea behind introducing local wine was to help farmers generate increased income. But until our products find space in the retail ecosystem, achieving financial viability will not be possible," said Muzaffarnagar-based Sanjay Gupta, who desperately wants to enter the retail market with five different local wines produced from mango, litchi, jamun, grapes, and mixed fruits for a year.
Since the UP govt decided not to impose excise duty on 'Made in UP' wines, retailers showed no interest in stocking the products in the stores.
"Every retailer has to provide a fixed income to the excise department through the liquor trade.
Called MGQ (minimum guarantee quota), it is mandatory for retailers to purchase a minimum quantity of liquor bottles in a month to assure a certain fixed revenue to the state," said a Lucknow-based retailer.
Over the sale of country liquor, English wine, and beer bottles, a hefty portion of the price is paid as excise duty to the state coffers, helping retailers achieve the MGQ. As the sale of local wine would not generate any excise duty for the state, retailers will not be able to achieve MGQ in return.
"That is why no retailer shows interest in stocking local wines and instead focuses on the products which have higher demand," the retailer added.
A senior excise officer said provisions need to be made in the existing policy to create a sub-quota within the MGQ to promote local wine.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
17 minutes ago
- Time of India
DHL shuts down across Canada as 2,100 workers strike and new anti-scab law triggers chaos
DHL Express Canada suspended operations nationwide on Friday(June 20), halting thousands of parcel deliveries and disrupting major supply chains, as a labor strike coincided with the introduction of new federal legislation banning the use of replacement workers. The shutdown follows nearly two weeks of stalled contract negotiations between DHL and Unifor , Canada's largest private-sector union. The standoff escalated on June 8 when the company locked out 2,100 unionized workers, including truck drivers, clerks, and warehouse staff, across Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec. In response, Unifor launched a strike, citing unfair labor practices and insufficient wage proposals. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Luxury 2, 3, 4 & 4.5 Bed Homes in South Mumbai at Piramal Mahalaxmi | South Tower Ready to Move In Piramal Mahalaxmi Learn More Undo New 'anti-scab' legislation Friday's operations freeze coincides with the federal government 's new 'anti-scab' legislation (Bill C-58), which officially came into effect the same day. The law prohibits federally regulated companies, like DHL, from hiring replacement workers during strikes or lockouts, a long-standing demand from organized labor. Live Events DHL, a German-based logistics giant with about 50,000 Canadian customers, including Lululemon, Shein, and Siemens , had continued partial operations using temporary hires during the initial days of the dispute. But as the law loomed, the company began winding down services earlier this week. 'DHL has shut down operations nationally,' Unifor said in a statement Friday morning. 'This is the real-world impact of corporate refusal to bargain fairly, and a significant test of Canada's new labor protections.' Union President Lana Payne accused the company of undermining workers by legally using replacement labor before June 21, a tactic she says damaged trust and bargaining momentum. DHL has not denied the use of replacement workers. The dispute stems from Unifor's demand for a 22 percent wage increase over three years and stronger protections for owner-operator drivers who face rising costs for fuel, vehicles, and insurance. DHL has proposed a 15 percent increase over five years, alongside limited bonuses and pension improvements. Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu confirmed she met with both parties on Wednesday after DHL formally requested government intervention to restore operations. So far, Ottawa has not indicated it will step in. In the meantime, shipments remain frozen in DHL facilities, and businesses are scrambling to switch to alternate carriers like FedEx and Purolator.
Indian Express
44 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Foreign students flock to Kerala University, 138% rise in applications over last 4 years
While Kerala youths are scouting for higher education abroad, their international peers appear to be increasingly turning towards the University of Kerala. According to the university, the current academic year of 2025-26 has seen a 138 percent rise in foreign applications compared four years ago. University authorities have received 2,620 applications from 81 countries in 2025-26, up from 1,100 students in 2021-22. The number of foreign students has been steadily rising for the last four years, with the university receiving 1,400 in 2022-23 and 2,600 in 2024-25. 'The university has consistently attracted the highest number of foreign students among all universities in Kerala,' Sabu Joseph, director of the Centre for Global Academics (CGA) at University of Kerala, said. 'This year's applications include 1,265 for undergraduate programmes, 1,020 for postgraduate courses, and 335 for PhD programmes. The processed applications were submitted to the portal of Indian Council for Cultural Relations, under the External Affairs Ministry, for final selection.' While the majority of applicants hail from Africa, there are students from Iran, Iraq, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Philippines, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, South Africa, Russia, France, and the USA. Commerce and management studies remain the top choices, followed by political science, psychology, economics, education, linguistics, and English literature. Science disciplines like computer science, biotechnology, chemistry, environmental sciences, mathematics, physics, and statistics also draw significant interest. Currently, 205 international students are from 52 countries — including Colombia, Peru, U.K and the USA. 'The university supports its global scholars with orientation programmes, cultural events, and annual graduation ceremonies, fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment. The growth in number of applicants underscores the university's rising global prominence and unwavering commitment to academic excellence and cultural diversity,' Sabu said.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Kroger closing 60 stores across US: What shoppers need to know
Grocery chain Kroger announced it will close 60 stores across the United States over the next 18 months, representing about 5% of its 1,239 Kroger-branded locations operating in 16 states. The Cincinnati-based company disclosed the decision in a recent regulatory filing. Kroger will close 60 stores across the United States over the next 18 months.(REUTERS) "In the first quarter, Kroger recognized an impairment charge of $100 million related to the planned closing of approximately 60 stores over the next 18 months. As a result of these store closures, Kroger expects a modest financial benefit," the company said. Kroger said employees at affected stores will be offered positions at other nearby locations. While the company did not release a full list of affected locations, WAFF reported that the Kroger store at 1707 W. University Drive in McKinney, Texas, will be among those shutting down. "Unfortunately, we have made the difficult decision to close our McKinney store located at 1707 W. University Dr.," Kroger said in a statement to WAFF. 'This closure is part of a larger company-wide decision to run more efficiently and ensure the long-term health of our business.' Also Read: Kroger under fire for 'Lazy' Juneteenth cakes Store Closures Follow Modest Sales Decline The announcement comes shortly after Kroger reported its first-quarter earnings, with sales falling slightly to $45.1 billion, compared to $45.3 billion during the same quarter last year. Despite the decline, Chairman and CEO Ron Sargent said the company made 'solid progress' in several key areas. 'Kroger delivered solid first quarter results, with strong sales led by pharmacy, eCommerce and fresh. We made good progress in streamlining our priorities, enhancing customer focus, and running great stores to improve the shopping experience,' Ron Sargent said in a statement. 'Our commitment to driving growth in our core business and moving with speed positions us well for the future. We are confident in our ability to build on our momentum, deliver value for customers, invest in associates and generate attractive returns for shareholders.'
