Latest news with #Encirc
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Shoppers warned of ‘substantial' shortages of staple summer drink on supermarket shelves from today
Keep reading to find out how you can save money buying alcohol DRY SUMMER Shoppers warned of 'substantial' shortages of staple summer drink on supermarket shelves from today Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SHOPPERS have been warned there will be "substantial" shortages of a classic summer drink from TODAY. Brits were devastated to learn they could find empty wine shelves in supermarkets up and down the country. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Wine shelves are set to look a little bare this summer Credit: Getty Bottles have disappeared rapidly after a popular wine supplier announced its workers are going on strike. Staff at Encirc, a Bristol based warehouse that holds 18 of the most drank wine brands in the UK, kicked off the 16-day walk out today. Around 2000 employees at the site, in Avonmouth, revealed they will carry out the industrial action from June 19 to July 5. Unit members are going on strike over a pay dispute, as reported by the Express, after already being offered a 3.2 per cent wage increase. A union spokesperson claimed workers are not paid properly despite the "very profitable company" Encirc turning over £600million. It will see key figures in bottling, packaging and distribution, walk out on different dates - as well as a 12 week overtime ban. Experts have claimed the strike could see a "significant" shortage of wines at UK supermarkets. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Encirc's meanness to its workers is all about greed and not need. "This is a very lucrative company that can fully afford to pay its workers properly but it is choosing not to. "Unite will not stand idly by and allow Encric to steal our members hard won rights. Five Lidl rosés you need this summer, according to a wine expert - a £6.99 buy is as light & crispy as £22 Whispering Angel "Encirc workers deserve better and they have Unite's full support throughout this dispute." Unite regional officer John Sweeney added: "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. "Management has constantly refused to engage meaningfully. Encirc needs to return to the negotiating table with a vastly improved offer." Encirc said it is 'open to dialogue with the union in good faith.' This comes as beer fans are going bananas over this summer beverage accessory that has been branded a "great product." The product is currently on sale for nearly half the price and can arrive at your home in time for the weekend. And, Sun reporter Helen Nicklin has tested a range of supermarket summer cocktails in a can. The winner was a Pimm's mix - which was £10 cheaper than the new Aperol Spritz. Shoppers can now pick up the 200ml bottles in packs of four at specific supermarkets – taking all the hassle out of cocktail making. And it is not the only big-name tipple that has been canned for your convenience. Here, drinks expert Helena sips and scores a selection of pre-mixed cocktails. Plus, Morrisons shoppers have raised a glass this week as the industry giant rolls out brand-new cocktails for just £1.50 per drink – and they're perfect for summer BBQs. The budget-friendly booze is part of an exclusive tie-up with premium cocktail brand The Drinks Bureau, bringing a taste of the bar straight to your garden party. Available now in over 280 Morrisons stores across the UK, the 1.5-litre cocktail boxes are priced at £15 each – or just £12 with a More Card. That works out at as little as £1.20 per serving, offering premium drinks at pocket-friendly prices. Each box contains ten ready-to-drink servings and includes a tap-style spout for easy pouring, making it an ideal option for hassle-free entertaining. It's also the first time shoppers can get premium 'on tap' cocktails from a UK supermarket – a format that's proven popular in bars and pubs.
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
Shoppers warned of ‘substantial' shortages of staple summer drink on supermarket shelves from today
SHOPPERS have been warned there will be "substantial" shortages of a classic summer drink from TODAY. Brits were devastated to learn they could find empty wine shelves in supermarkets up and down the country. 1 Bottles have disappeared rapidly after a popular wine supplier announced its workers are going on strike. Staff at Encirc, a Bristol based warehouse that holds 18 of the most drank wine brands in the UK, kicked off the 16-day walk out today. Around 2000 employees at the site, in Avonmouth, revealed they will carry out the industrial action from June 19 to July 5. Unit members are going on strike over a pay dispute, as reported by the Express, after already being offered a 3.2 per cent wage increase. A union spokesperson claimed workers are not paid properly despite the "very profitable company" Encirc turning over £600million. It will see key figures in bottling, packaging and distribution, walk out on different dates - as well as a 12 week overtime ban. Experts have claimed the strike could see a "significant" shortage of wines at UK supermarkets. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Encirc's meanness to its workers is all about greed and not need. "This is a very lucrative company that can fully afford to pay its workers properly but it is choosing not to. "Unite will not stand idly by and allow Encric to steal our members hard won rights. Five Lidl rosés you need this summer, according to a wine expert - a £6.99 buy is as light & crispy as £22 Whispering Angel "Encirc workers deserve better and they have Unite's full support throughout this dispute." Unite regional officer John Sweeney added: "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. "Management has constantly refused to engage meaningfully. Encirc needs to return to the negotiating table with a vastly improved offer." Encirc said it is 'open to dialogue with the union in good faith.' This comes as beer fans are going bananas over this summer beverage accessory that has been branded a "great product." The product is currently on sale for nearly half the price and can arrive at your home in time for the weekend. And, Sun reporter Helen Nicklin has tested a range of supermarket summer cocktails in a can. The winner was a Pimm's mix - which was £10 cheaper than the new Aperol Spritz. Shoppers can now pick up the 200ml bottles in packs of four at specific supermarkets – taking all the hassle out of cocktail making. And it is not the only big-name tipple that has been canned for your convenience. Here, drinks expert Helena sips and scores a selection of pre-mixed cocktails. Plus, Morrisons shoppers have raised a glass this week as the industry giant rolls out brand-new cocktails for just £1.50 per drink – and they're perfect for summer BBQs. The budget-friendly booze is part of an exclusive tie-up with premium cocktail brand The Drinks Bureau, bringing a taste of the bar straight to your garden party. Available now in over 280 Morrisons stores across the UK, the 1.5-litre cocktail boxes are priced at £15 each – or just £12 with a More Card. That works out at as little as £1.20 per serving, offering premium drinks at pocket-friendly prices. Each box contains ten ready-to-drink servings and includes a tap-style spout for easy pouring, making it an ideal option for hassle-free entertaining. It's also the first time shoppers can get premium 'on tap' cocktails from a UK supermarket – a format that's proven popular in bars and pubs. How to save money buying alcohol Alcohol can be pricey if you're planning a party or hosting an event but there are ways to cut costs. It's always important to drink responsibly, here, Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements share some tips on getting booze for the best price. Stocking up can mean big savings on drinks, especially if you want to buy wine or fizz. The big supermarkets regularly offer discounts of 25% when you buy six or more bottles of wine. The promotions typically run in the lead up to occasions such as Bank Holidays, Christmas and Easter. If you know you are going to need booze later in the year, it can be worth acting when you see offers. Before buying your preferred drink make sure you shop around to find the best price – you can use a comparison site such as or Don't forget that loyalty cards can unlock better savings so make sure you factor that in too. If you like your plonk, wine clubs can also be a good way to save money and try new varieties. You'll usually have to pay a membership fee in return for cheaper price so work out if you will be buying enough to make the one off cost worthwhile.
Times
a day ago
- Business
- Times
Wine shortage fears after bottling workers go on strike
Drinkers face the possibility of wine shortages this summer after workers at the nation's biggest bottling plant voted to go on strike. Union bosses warned shoppers to expect empty supermarket shelves after 200 staff at the Encirc factory in Bristol decided to walk out in a dispute over pay. The facility is capable of bottling nearly 300 million litres of wine a year, the equivalent of about 360 million bottles, and has 40 per cent market share. It supplies all the major supermarkets and is used by 18 of the top 20 wine brands in the UK, including Hardys, Villa Maria and McGuigan, as well as several popular celebrity wines including Graham Norton and Sarah Jessica Parker's ranges. Most new world wines are shipped to the UK in huge containers and bottled here to save the financial and environmental costs of transporting millions of bottles. The trade union Unite confirmed that the strike would take place between Thursday and July 5 and that workers in different parts of the business would take industrial action on different dates and at different times to maximise disruption. John Sweeney, Unite's regional officer, 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.' • Cognac workers strike over Hennessy's plans to bottle in China Unite explained that Encirc, which is owned by the Spanish Vidrala group, had only offered its workers a 3.2 per cent pay rise, with all future pay rises linked to inflation. The union also accused the company of effectively removing collective bargaining rights because any pay increases will in future be imposed on workers without negotiation. Sharon Graham, Unite's general secretary, said that the firm was 'very profitable' and had 'a turnover of more than £600 million'. She added: 'Encirc's meanness to its workers is all about greed and not need. 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.' In a statement, the company said that it was 'incredibly disappointed' with the industrial action and would try to 'mitigate any impact' on supplies. The firm said: 'We have worked hard to not only uplift pay and conditions, but to create a truly great place to work. If this latest pay offer was accepted, we would have increased pay for our Bristol-based site by more than 16 per cent in less than two years. There are few companies in our sector globally who have done the same for their people.' The firm added that it remained 'open to dialogue with the union in good faith'. Enirc's Bristol site is one of the most advanced and sustainable bottling facilities in the world, operating with zero waste and 100 per cent renewable electricity. It boasts of being able to handle bulk container shipping tanks that hold 24,000 litres of wine, which is then bottled on site, reducing glass shipping costs and carbon emissions. Supermarkets and the Wine and Spirit Trade Association have been approached for comment.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Brits warned of wine shortage as UK bottling factory plans strike this summer
Workers from Encirc site in Bristol, who supply wine to all major UK supermarkets, are set to strike between June 19 and July 5. Those who love a glass of wine at home may be in for some bleak news. Brits are being warned that wine shelves in supermarkets may be left empty this summer due to worker strike action at a UK bottling company. From June 19 until July 5, over 200 Unite members who work in the Encirc site in Avonmouth, Bristol, are planning to strike over pay. As a result, this will have a major impact on production, which will see less bottles of wine on our supermarket shelves. Members involved in the strike are workers from across the factory, with some distributing the alcohol from the site, while others are tasked with bottling and packaging red, rose and white wine. With wine the most popular alcoholic drink in the UK, according to the Mirror, Encirc supplies plonk to all major supermarkets in the country. With a turnover of over £600million, Unite says that Encirc is a "very profitable company" as it supplies a variation of wine packaging, including boxes, bags and bottles. According to Unite, the firm only offered their workers a 3.2 per cent pay rise. This was done without negotiating with Unite and the firm has gone on to repeatedly state that it will only be giving pay rises that are tied to inflation from now on. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Encirc's meanness to its workers is all about greed and not need. This is a very lucrative company that can fully afford to pay its workers properly but it is choosing not to. "Unite will not stand idly by and allow Encric to steal our members hard won rights. Encirc workers deserve better and they have Unite's full support throughout this dispute." Workers from different areas of the business are set to take strike action on different dates and times from June 19 to July 5. This action will have a big impact on production schedules, with the union also saying that a 12-week overtime ban is set to take place. Unite regional officer John Sweeney 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. "Management has constantly refused to engage meaningfully. Encirc needs to return to the negotiating table with a vastly improved offer." Elsewhere, other forms of strike action are set to take place this summer, with workers from Edinburgh and Glasgow Airports threatening to walk out, which will cause major travel disruption for holiday goers. This is due to workers rejecting "unacceptable" pay offers from their employer Menzies Aviation. From around 300 workers at Glasgow Airport, an astounding 97 per cent voted to reject the proposed deals, with 100 per cent of a similar number of workers at Edinburgh Airport doing the same. Unless Menzies Aviation can present a better offer, the union warns it will be forced to ballot members for strike action, in turn causing havoc for summer travel. Unite industrial officer Carrie Binnie said: "Summer strike action looms over Edinburgh and Glasgow airports because the pay offers on the table from Menzies Aviation aren't good enough." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Wine shortage to hit UK this summer as all major supermarkets could be affected
Over 200 Unite members at the Encirc site in Avonmouth, Bristol, are set to strike between June 19 and July 5 - with the company supplying all UK major supermarkets with wine Brits have been warned supermarket shelves could be left empty of wine this summer, as factory workers at a major bottling company are planning to strike. Over 200 Unite members at the Encirc site in Avonmouth, Bristol, are set to strike over pay and collective bargaining between June 19 and July 5. Members at the factory work across different areas, including bottling and packaging red, white, rose and sparkling wine and distributing it from warehouses. The company supplies all the major supermarkets with wine, which is the most popular alcoholic drink in the UK. According to Unite, Encirc is a "very profitable company" with a turnover of over £600million, supplying all the big supermarkets with bottles, box and bags of wine. Unite says the firm has only offered its workers a 3.2 per cent pay rise without negotiating with Unite and has now repeatedly stated from now on it will only give pay rises tied to inflation. Unite says this effectively means removing Unite's collective bargaining rights, as any pay increases will be set by Encirc without negotiations before being imposed on workers. Previously, the union had been able to negotiate with management on pay. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Encirc's meanness to its workers is all about greed and not need. This is a very lucrative company that can fully afford to pay its workers properly but it is choosing not to. "Unite will not stand idly by and allow Encric to steal our members hard won rights. Encirc workers deserve better and they have Unite's full support throughout this dispute." Strikes will take place between June 19 and 5 July - with workers in different parts of the business taking strike action on different dates and times according to production schedules to have the biggest impact. There will also be a 12-week overtime ban as part of the action, the union said. Unite regional officer John Sweeney 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. "Management has constantly refused to engage meaningfully. Encirc needs to return to the negotiating table with a vastly improved offer."
