Spiritrade aims to revolutionise the drinks industry

More than 40 C&C/wholesalers are participating in a new secure and confidential scheme to buy and sell alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks that are surplus to requirements.

The service, called Spiritrade, is the brainchild of Jimmy Metta, founder of on-trade wholesaler Vanquish Wines. Members pay 2% commission on the purchase or sale of the products being transacted. Neither the buyer nor seller of stock has access to the identity of the other party.

Goods waiting to be traded can be stored at a holding site in Rotterdam, operated by Top Logistics. It is understood that details of a UK base will shortly be announced.

A spokesperson for Spiritrade said: “All members are vetted and comply with regulation before they are allowed access to the exchange. Furthermore, all stock is verified before a transaction completes and all funds are held in escrow (a contractual arrangement in which a third party receives and disburses money or property for the primary transacting parties, the disbursement being dependent on conditions agreed by those parties).

“We act as the facilitator between buyer and seller in this scheme, which is similar to e-bay. It goes without saying that no rogue traders are allowed.

“Spiritrade aims to revolutionise and modernise the drinks industry.”

Tel: Spiritrade (07821) 891 504