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Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Aly Esmail

Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (supported by CareTech and Sheikh Holdings): Aly Esmail, director of the SME Group

Having joined his parents in the family business around a decade ago, Aly Esmail has helped make the SME group one of the most successful in its sector.


The group runs a wide range of fast food restaurants, partnering with some of the top franchise names in the world. Under Esmail’s watch, SME has expanded beyond its traditional London base and has now branched out into hotels with Choice Hotels International and InterContinental Hotels.

The company has over 1,000 employees and the Esmail family are well known philanthropists, donating to a number of worthy charities.

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Scotch whisky production slows as tariffs and weak demand bite

The first half of this year showed Scotch exports worth £2.5bn

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Scotch whisky production slows as tariffs and weak demand bite

Highlights

  • American tariffs adding 10 per cent to costs, with further 25 per cent charge on single malts expected next spring.
  • Barley demand slumped from up to 1 million tonnes to 600-700,000 tonnes expected next year.
  • Major distilleries including Glenmorangie and Teaninich have paused production for months.
Scotland's whisky industry is facing a sharp downturn in production as it adapts to challenging market conditions worldwide, with US tariffs and weakening global demand forcing major distilleries to halt operations.

Tariffs introduced under the Trump administration have added 10 per cent to importers' costs in the industry's biggest export market.

American tariffs on single malts, suspended four years ago, are expected to return next spring with a further 25 per cent charge unless a deal is reached.

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