WSTA announces Brexit focus at Annual Conference

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) will discuss the latest Brexit developments and “stimulate fresh ideas” on dealing with the challenges and opportunities ahead at this year’s WSTA Annual Conference.

This year’s WSTA Annual Conference is titled Trading Spaces: Creative partnerships with the EU and the rest of the world

The minister of state for international trade, Lord Price, and the founder of pub chain Wetherspoon, Tim Martin, have been announced as keynote speakers at this year’s event in conversation with former ITN political news editor Alex Forrest.

Titled Trading Spaces: Creative partnerships with the EU and the rest of the world, the conference will take place on Tuesday 12 September at The Royal Institution of Great Britain in London.

Following an industry address from Miles Beale, chief executive of the WSTA, and conversations with Lord Price and Martin, a panel of experts – whose names will be released closer to the event – will debate what needs to be done to support the industry throughout the Brexit process and invite attendees to think creatively about the opportunities it may present.

“We are pleased and excited to announce that this year’s WSTA Annual Conference has two business giants signed up as headline speakers,” said Beale.

“For a global industry like wine and spirits their views on how business can survive and prosper post Brexit are guaranteed to stimulate interesting debate.

“We know there will be challenging times ahead for our members and our aim is to work together to find the best way through which allows our industry’s historic trade flows to remain intact. But we need also to look to the future and global opportunities.”

The WSTA Annual Conference is the largest wine and spirit industry event and takes place in September each year.