Berry Bros and Rudd launches redundancy consultation over 30 roles

Wine and spirit merchant Berry Bros and Rudd has launched redundancy talks over 30 roles in light of “challenging” market conditions” and “significant cost pressures”.

Britain’s oldest wine and spirit merchant cited multiple cost pressures including increases to employer National Insurance contributions set to come into force in April.

Chief executive Emma Fox said: “Like many businesses, we are having to make some very difficult but necessary decisions in the face of extremely challenging global market conditions, as well as significant cost pressures, high inflation and recent increases in NI contributions.

“As such, we have recently entered into a consultation process with colleagues across 30 roles. We are doing everything we can to support all of our dedicated colleagues and especially those affected by this announcement.”

Berry Bros and Rudd was founded in London in 1698. Accounts filed with Companies House for the year to 31 March 2024 showed turnover of £244.5m.

Many businesses across retail and hospitality have said they are looking to cut staff headcounts following October’s budget in which chancellor Rachel Reeves announced an increase to employer National Insurance contributions.

It has been estimated that some 774,000 hospitality workers will be pulled into the new National Insurance Contributions (NICs) threshold in April, which is expected to cost the industry £1b.

Yesterday UKHospitality’s chief executive Kate Nicholls called on the government to reverse the policy and back hospitality if it wants to achieve its goal and “deliver for the economy, jobs and communities”.