The directors present the strategic report for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Principle activities

The company is engaged in the supply and distribution of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to a wide variety of customers including pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, and clubs (on trade).

Review of the business

Development and Key Performance Indicators of the company's business during the financial period.

The statement of profit and loss account is set out on page 9 and shows turnover of £64.6m (2024: £66.0m) and a gross profit £8.8m (2024: £8.6m). The company realised a profit before tax of £632k (2024: £1.2m). During the year the company's turnover reduced by 2%.

Key Performance Indicators

The directors use both financial and non-financial performance indicators to monitor the company's position.

The key financial performance indicators of the company are sales of £64.6m (2024: £66.0m), operating profit of £1.1m (2024: £1.7m).

The key non-financial performance indicators of the company are customer service and satisfaction, and stakeholder relationships. The directors review the performance with constant feedback from customers and stakeholders.

Principal risk and uncertainties

Risk management operates at all level throughout the business. The board takes overall responsibility, determining the nature and extent of principal risks it is willing to take to archive the company's strategic objectives, and maintaining the company's risks governance structure and appropriate internal control framework.

The directors continually assess and evaluate the main risks to the company achieving its business objectives and these are identified below. The list does not include all risks that the group faces.

Regulation

The company operates in an environment controlled by strict regulations. The company has implemented policies that require appropriate due diligence to be executed on customers and simultaneously focussing on adequate internal processes and systems to ensure compliance with the regulatory framework. The directors take their responsibilities towards these very seriously and regularly review the company's compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

Financial Instruments

In the opinions of directors, there is no material difference between the current carrying value and fair value of any of the company's financial instruments at the end of the current financial year or the prior period end. The principal financial risks are addressed below.

Credit Risk

The company's main financial assets are cash and trade debtors. The directors consider there to be minimal credit risk in relation to the company's cash balances as these are all held at reputable financial institutions. The directors manage credit risk in respect of the company;s trade debtors by reviewing and stipulating credit limits for all customers. The company has implemented policies to undertake due diligence and credit checks on customers to manage credit risk.

Liquidity Risk

The company actively manages its liquidity risk in order to meet its foreseeable needs both in the short and medium term

Currency Risk

The company's sales and purchases are dominated in sterling. Therefore, the directors consider there to be no exposure to currency risk.

On behalf of the board

The directors present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.

The principal activity of the company continued to be that of wholesale of alcoholic beverages and tobacco.

The results for the year are set out on page 9.

Ordinary dividend were paid amounting to £300,000 (2024: £450,000). The directors do not recommend payment of a further dividend.

The directors who held office during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were as follows:

The auditor, KLSA LLP, is deemed to be reappointed under section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006.

The directors are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law, the directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the profit or loss of the company for that period.

In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to:

• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

• make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

• state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business.

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

So far as each person who was a director at the date of approving this report is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the company’s auditor is unaware. Additionally, the directors individually have taken all the necessary steps that they ought to have taken as directors in order to make themselves aware of all relevant audit information and to establish that the company’s auditor is aware of that information.

We have audited the financial statements of Champers (Wholesale) Limited (the 'company') for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the profit and loss account, the statement of comprehensive income, the balance sheet, the statement of changes in equity and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

• give a true and fair view of the state of the company's affairs as at 31 March 2025 and of its profit for the year then ended;

• have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

• have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the directors' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report. However, because not all future events or conditions can be predicted, this statement is not a guarantee as to the company’s ability to continue as going concern.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The directors are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:

• the information given in the strategic report and the directors' report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

• the strategic report and the directors' report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report or the directors' report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

• adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or

• the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

• certain disclosures of directors' remuneration specified by law are not made; or

• we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

As explained more fully in the directors' responsibilities statement, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.

Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:

• the engagement partner ensured that the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence, capabilities and skills to identify or recognise non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations;

• we identified the laws and regulations applicable to the company through discussions with directors and other management, and from our commercial knowledge and experience of the sector; and

• we focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the operations of the company financial statements or the operations of the company, including the Companies Act 2006, taxation legislation and data protection, anti-bribery, employment, environmental and health and safety legislation.

We assessed the susceptibility of the company’s financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:

• making enquiries of management as to where they considered there was susceptibility to fraud, their knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud; and

• considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risks of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations.

To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:

• performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships;

• tested journal entries to identify unusual transactions;

• assessed whether judgements and assumptions made in determining the accounting estimates set out in note 2 were indicative of potential bias; and

• investigated the rationale behind significant or unusual transactions.

To address the risk of non-compliance with laws and regulations, we communicated identified laws and regulations throughout our team and remained alert to any indications of non-compliance throughout the audit. The potential effect of these laws and regulations on the financial statements varies considerably.

Firstly, the company is subject to laws and regulations that directly affect the financial statements including financial reporting legislation (including related companies legislation) and taxation legislation (including payroll taxes) and we assessed the extent of compliance with these laws and regulations as part of our procedures on the related financial statements items.

Secondly, the Company is subject to many other laws and regulations where the consequences of non-compliance could have a material effect on amounts or disclosures in the financial statements, for instance through the imposition of fines or litigation or the loss of the Company’s license to operate. We identified the following areas as those most likely to have such an effect: Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme and healthcare and safety legislation regulations. Auditing standards limit the required audit procedures to identify non-compliance with these laws and regulations to enquiry of the Directors and other management and inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any. Therefore, if a breach of operational regulations is not disclosed to us or evident from relevant correspondence, an audit will not detect that breach.

Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards; for instance, any non-compliance with laws and regulations and fraud which is far removed from transactions reflected in the financial statements would diminish the likelihood of detection. Furthermore, the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is greater than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error.

Fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional omissions, misrepresentation, or through an act of collusion that would mitigate internal controls. Our audit procedures are designed to detect material misstatement. We are not responsible for preventing non-compliance or fraud and cannot be expected to detect non-compliance with all laws and regulations.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

The profit and loss account has been prepared on the basis that all operations are continuing operations.

Champers (Wholesale) Limited is a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 263 Water Road, Abbeydale Industrial Estate, Wembley, Middlesex, HA0 1HX.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £'000.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

This company is a qualifying entity for the purposes of FRS 102, being a member of a group where the parent of that group prepares publicly available consolidated financial statements, including this company, which are intended to give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the group. The company has therefore taken advantage of exemptions from the following disclosure requirements:

• Section 7 ‘Statement of Cash Flows’: Presentation of a statement of cash flow and related notes and disclosures;

• Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instrument Issues: Interest income/expense and net gains/losses for financial instruments not measured at fair value; basis of determining fair values; details of collateral, loan defaults or breaches, details of hedges, hedging fair value changes recognised in profit or loss and in other comprehensive income;

• Section 26 ‘Share based Payment’: Share-based payment expense charged to profit or loss, reconciliation of opening and closing number and weighted average exercise price of share options, how the fair value of options granted was measured, measurement and carrying amount of liabilities for cash-settled share-based payments, explanation of modifications to arrangements;

• Section 33 ‘Related Party Disclosures’: Compensation for key management personnel.

The financial statements of the company are consolidated in the financial statements of HT Drinks Holdings Limited as at 31 March 2025. These consolidated financial statements may be obtained from Companies House, Crown Way, Miandy, Cardiff, CF14 3UZ.

The financial performance of the company is set out in the strategic report and in the statement of profit or loss and the other comprehensive income. The financial position of the company is set out in the statement of financial position.true

At the time of approving the financial statements, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the directors continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

Turnover is recognised at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for sale of goods provided in the normal course of business, and is shown net of VAT and other sales related taxes. The fair value of consideration takes into account trade discounts, settlement discounts and volume rebates.

Revenue from the sale of goods is recognised when the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods have passed to the buyer (usually on dispatch of the goods), the amount of revenue can be measured reliably, it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the entity and the costs incurred or to be incurred in respect of the transaction can be measured reliably.

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of acquisition of unincorporated businesses over the fair value of net assets acquired. It is initially recognised as an asset at cost and is subsequently measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill is considered to have a finite useful life and is amortised on a systematic basis over its expected life.

Tangible fixed assets are stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. Historical cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to bringing the asset to the location and condition necessary for it to be capable of operating in the manner intended by management.

Depreciation is charged so as to allocate the cost of assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives, using the straight-line method. The estimated useful lives range as follows:

The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is credited or charged to profit or loss.

Computer equipment and associated software is included in plant, machinery and equipment and is depreciated over 5 years.

At each reporting period end date, the company reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any). Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the company estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.

Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted.

If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease.

Recognised impairment losses are reversed if, and only if, the reasons for the impairment loss have ceased to apply. Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset (or cash-generating unit) in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the reversal of the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.

Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost is based on the cost of purchase on a first in, first out basis. Net realisable value is based on estimated selling price less costs of disposal.

At each reporting date, inventories are assessed for impairment. If inventory is impaired, the carrying amount is reduced to its selling price less costs to sell. The impairment loss is recognised immediately in the profit or loss.

Cash and cash equivalents are basic financial assets and include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

The company has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.

Financial instruments are recognised in the company's balance sheet when the company becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.

Other financial assets, including investments in equity instruments which are not subsidiaries, associates or joint ventures, are initially measured at fair value, which is normally the transaction price. Such assets are subsequently carried at fair value and the changes in fair value are recognised in profit or loss, except that investments in equity instruments that are not publicly traded and whose fair values cannot be measured reliably are measured at cost less impairment.

Financial assets, other than those held at fair value through profit and loss, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting end date.

Financial assets are impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows have been affected. If an asset is impaired, the impairment loss is the difference between the carrying amount and the present value of the estimated cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. The impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss.

If there is a decrease in the impairment loss arising from an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the impairment is reversed. The reversal is such that the current carrying amount does not exceed what the carrying amount would have been, had the impairment not previously been recognised. The impairment reversal is recognised in profit or loss.

Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled, or when the company transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to another entity, or if some significant risks and rewards of ownership are retained but control of the asset has transferred to another party that is able to sell the asset in its entirety to an unrelated third party.

Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the company after deducting all of its liabilities.

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors, bank loans, loans from fellow group companies and preference shares that are classified as debt, are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Derivatives, including interest rate swaps and forward foreign exchange contracts, are not basic financial instruments. Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently re-measured at their fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recognised in profit or loss in finance costs or finance income as appropriate, unless hedge accounting is applied and the hedge is a cash flow hedge.

Debt instruments that do not meet the conditions in FRS 102 paragraph 11.9 are subsequently measured at fair value through profit or loss. Debt instruments may be designated as being measured at fair value through profit or loss to eliminate or reduce an accounting mismatch or if the instruments are measured and their performance evaluated on a fair value basis in accordance with a documented risk management or investment strategy.

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the company’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

Equity instruments issued by the company are recorded at the proceeds received, net of transaction costs. Dividends payable on equity instruments are recognised as liabilities once they are no longer at the discretion of the company.

The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax.

The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the profit and loss account because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The company’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting end date.

Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all timing differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the timing difference arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the tax profit nor the accounting profit.

The costs of short-term employee benefits are recognised as a liability and an expense, unless those costs are required to be recognised as part of the cost of stock or fixed assets.

The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.

Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the company is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.

Contributions to the company's defined contribution pension scheme are charged to the profit and loss account in the year in which they are paid and relate to. The assets of the scheme are held separately in an independently administered fund.

Where assets are financed by leasing agreements that give rights approximating to ownership ('finance leases'), the assets are treated as if they had been purchased outright. The amount capitalised is the present value of minimum lease payments payable during the lease term. The corresponding leasing commitments are shown as amounts payable to the lessor. Depreciation on the relevant assets is charged to the profit and loss account.

Lease payments are analysed between capital and interest components. The interest element of the payment is charged to the profit and loss account over the period of the lease term and is calculated so that it represents a constant proportion of the balance of capital repayments outstanding. The capital part reduces the amounts payable to the lessor.

All other leases are treated as operating leases. Their annual rentals are charged to the profit and loss account on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

Finance costs

Finance costs are charged to profit or loss over the term of the debt using the effective interest method so that the amount charged is at a constant rate on carrying amount. Issue costs are initially recognised as a reduction in the proceeds of the associated capital instruments.

Comparatives

There were no changes in comparative figures during the year.

In the application of the company’s accounting policies, the directors are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.

The estimates and assumptions which have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities are as follows.

Management reviews the useful lives, depreciation methods and residual values of the items of tangible fixed assets and on a regular basis. During the year, the directors determined no significant changes in the useful lives and residual values. The carrying amounts of tangible fixed assets are disclosed in notes 11 and 12 respectively.

The company operates a cash and carry business selling alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. As a result, it is necessary to consider the recoverability of the cost of stock and the associated provisioning required. When calculating the stock provision, management considers the use-by date and condition of the stock.

Impairment of trade receivables - The directors review the portfolio of trade receivables on an annual basis. In determining whether receivables are impaired, the directors make judgement as to whether there is any evidence indicating that there is a measurable decrease in the estimate future cash flows expected.

The average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the company during the year was:

Their aggregate remuneration comprised:

Emoluments of the highest paid director, excluding employer pension contribution, amounted to £101,544 (2024: £99,544).

There were three Directors in the company's define contribution pension scheme during the year (2024: 2). The company made employer contribution to the pension scheme in the current year of £5,142 (2024: £4,320)

The actual charge for the year can be reconciled to the expected charge for the year based on the profit or loss and the standard rate of tax as follows:

The net book value of tangible fixed assets includes an amount of £95,539 (2024: £91,496) in respect of assets acquired and capitalised under finance leases and hire purchase contracts. The related depreciation charge for the year was £41,647 (2024: £55,676).

The amount shown as due to group companies of £2,220,021 (2024: £926,491) is interest free and repayable on demand.

The bank loan, including the other borrowings, is secured by fixed and floating charge over all other assets of the company and unlimited multilateral guarantee from group companies. Commercial rate of interest was charged on the borrowings.

Finance lease payments represent rentals payable by the company for certain items of plant and machinery. Leases include purchase options at the end of the lease period, and no restrictions are placed on the use of the assets. The average lease term is 4 to 5 years. All leases are on a fixed repayment basis and no arrangements have been entered into for contingent rental payments.

The following are the major deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the company and movements thereon:

The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the company in an independently administered fund.

During the year the company entered into the following transactions with related parties:

The company is a member of the HT Drinks Holdings Limited group with 75% of its share capital owned within that group. Therefore, disclosure is required of transactions and balances with the members of the HT Drinks Holdings Ltd group.

The following transactions were undertaken on commercial terms during the year with HT Drinks Ltd which is controlled and 100% owned by HT Drinks Holdings Ltd.

HT Drinks Ltd:

• Sales and other income totaling £2,822,123 (2024: £2,559,375)

• Purchase of goods and services totaling £21,330,246 (2024: £21,513,726)

• A management fee & expenses from HT Drinks Limited of £55,000 (2024: £66,000)

• The amount payable at the year-end was £1,909,685 (2024: £926,170)

The following transactions were undertaken on commercial terms during the year with Drinksupermarket.com Limited which is controlled and 80% owned by HT Drinks Holdings Ltd.

Drinksupermarket.com Limited:

• Sales of goods & services totaling £5,056,735 (2024: £5,746,075)

• Purchase of goods & services totaling £255,957 (2024: £48,052)

• The amount receivable at the year-end was £1,105,585 (2024: £746,756)

The following transactions were undertaken on commercial terms during the year with Gift Creation and Design Limited which is controlled and 100% owned by HT Drinks Holdings Ltd.

Gift Creation and Design Limited:

• Purchase of goods & services totaling £200 (2024: £3,144)

The following transactions were undertaken on commercial terms during the year with Sweetbay Properties Limited which is controlled and owned by Mr P Thakrar, the company's ultimate controlling party.

Sweetbay Properties Limited:

• Rent and insurance payments of £510,000 (2024: £415,000)

The company is a subsidiary of HT Drinks Holdings Limited, which is the ultimate parent company, and Mr P Thakrar is the ultimate controlling party.

The smallest and largest group in which the results of the company are consolidated is that headed by HT Drinks Holdings Limited. The consolidated financial statements of this company are available to the public and may be obtained from Companies House. No other group financial statements include the results of the company.