Europa Worldwide Group said it had become the market leader in UK-Europe distribution thanks to its delivered duty paid (DDP) solution developed in the years following the Brexit referendum.
The group said that while many competitors complained about the complexities of leaving the customs union after the 2016 vote, Europa chose to embrace the challenge and created a solution that left its rivals splashing in the shallows.
The group’s chief executive Andrew Baxter said its DDP product was developed despite being told it was impossible – and he claimed he was even accused of non-compliance and fraud.
However, the numbers fell in Europa’s favour and it now moves more than double the volume of its nearest competitor and facilitates over £12bn in UK exports.
The group said many firms dismissed the DDP model it relied on because UK exporters could not reclaim EU VAT, viewing it as commercially unviable.
But it utilised an existing EU customs regulation that enabled it to clear all continental Europe goods through France – and French-destined goods cleared in Belgium – allowing for zero-rating of VAT and a seamless DDP offering.
“At first, competitors didn’t just doubt us – they accused us of non-compliance and even fraud,” claimed Baxter.
“Some actively told our customers we would be shut down. The more they attacked us, the more determined we became – and the more market share we won.
“I supported Brexit because I believed the UK should be an independent, self-governing nation.
“I knew it would complicate my own business – and I had no special customs insight at the time.
“But that personal commitment to making Brexit work for our customers drove us to find a genuine solution rather than just complain about the problem.”
