European fulfilment for UK ecommerce brands
For UK brands shipping to EU customers, holding inventory within the EU is one operational option worth assessing since goods moving from Great Britain now cross a customs border into the EU. Vareya fulfils orders from a warehouse in Breda, the Netherlands, shipping across Europe and to other international markets.
Vareya is generally best suited to brands shipping 500 or more orders per month.
Share your current order profile and destination mix for an initial fulfilment fit assessment. No sales call required.
Quick answer
UK brands sometimes ship every EU order individually from Great Britain, crossing the GB-EU customs border per parcel. When EU order volume grows, comparing that setup with fulfilment from a warehouse inside the EU can be worthwhile. Vareya operates a warehouse in Breda, the Netherlands, and fulfils orders from there across Europe and to other international markets.
Vareya is generally best suited to brands shipping 500 or more orders per month.
Holding stock in the EU or shipping every order from Great Britain
Since the end of the Brexit transition period, goods moving from Great Britain to the EU are exports from the UK and imports into the EU, each with their own customs declaration. If most of your orders go to European customers, holding stock inside the EU changes the operational picture: goods cross the GB-EU border once as a consolidated inbound shipment, and customer orders are fulfilled from Breda. If EU orders are occasional, shipping individually from Great Britain may be the simpler setup.
The table below compares the two setups, including what happens to any remaining UK domestic orders. Whether a move to EU fulfilment fits your brand depends on your volumes, products and order profile. Product fit is confirmed during qualification.
| What to compare | Holding stock in the EU | Shipping every order from Great Britain |
|---|---|---|
| Where stock is held | In one warehouse in Breda, the Netherlands, close to European order volume. | In Great Britain, in the brand's own facility or with a UK 3PL. |
| How EU orders reach customers | Orders are picked, packed and handed to the carrier network from the warehouse in Breda and travel within the EU. | Each order is packed in Great Britain and sent to the EU customer as an individual cross-border parcel, crossing the GB-EU border since the end of the transition period. |
| Customs per order | Stock crosses the EU border once, as a consolidated inbound shipment. The import declaration is handled by the brand or its customs representative. | Every parcel crosses the GB-EU border individually; customs formalities, duties and VAT may apply per parcel depending on value, classification and origin. |
| Returns | Returns can land at the Breda warehouse. Returns handling is available. Contact Vareya to discuss the required returns process. | Returns travel back across the GB-EU border unless the brand arranges an alternative EU return route. |
| UK domestic orders | Shipments to the United Kingdom may be entered directly into the Royal Mail domestic network. Exact delivery timing depends on the agreed shipping method and is confirmed during qualification. | Fulfilled directly from the brand's existing UK stock, as today. |
| When it is worth comparing | When EU order volume becomes large enough that the consolidated import and EU-side operation is worth assessing against per-parcel GB-EU customs handling. | While EU volume is low and orders are occasional. |
The GB-EU corridor in one view
From Great Britain to the EU customer, the work is shared. This table shows which part each party typically owns. Vareya's role covers receiving, storage, fulfilment and the agreed returns process.
| Stage | Typical owner | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| UK-side readiness | Brand + its export partner | SKU data, product classification, commercial invoices and a GB EORI number are prepared before goods leave Great Britain. |
| Export from Great Britain | Brand's freight forwarder or transport partner | An export customs declaration clears goods through UK customs. Transport and insurance to the EU are arranged and paid for by the brand or its partners. |
| EU import and customs | Importer of record + customs representative | The responsible party submits the EU import declaration. Duties and VAT follow the product, its classification, and whether UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement origin rules are met. |
| Receiving and storage | Vareya | Stock is received at the warehouse in Breda and stored until orders are processed. |
| Fulfilment | Vareya | EU orders are picked, packed and shipped through the carrier network from the Netherlands. Vareya's shipping system can automatically select an appropriate carrier for each shipment, based on destination and parcel characteristics. |
| Returns | Vareya, per the agreed process | Returns handling is available. Contact Vareya to discuss the required returns process. |
What to prepare before stock leaves Great Britain
Most onboarding delays come from missing data and documents, not from the warehouse work itself. This checklist shows the information that is usually needed before the first inbound shipment:
- Complete SKU master data: identifiers, barcodes, dimensions and weight
- Correct product classification (commodity code) for every SKU
- A GB EORI number for exporting from Great Britain, and an EU EORI number for the party handling EU import
- Proof of origin documentation if a UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement preferential tariff is relevant
- An importer of record and a defined VAT route for EU sales
- Product compliance status, including any EU responsible-person or notification requirements
- UK export documentation, prepared before goods leave Great Britain
- Final label and packaging information
- Storage and handling instructions per product
- Sales-channel connection details (for example Shopify)
- Planned inbound shipment contents and arrival window
This is general operational information, not legal, tax or customs advice. Customs, VAT and product-compliance details should be confirmed with qualified advisers before the first shipment.
Customs, VAT and product compliance
Exporting from Great Britain requires a GB EORI number, the correct commodity code for each product, an export customs declaration, and commercial invoices. On the EU side, an import declaration is required and an EORI number is needed for the party that deals with customs. Under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, goods that meet the agreed origin rules and have valid proof of origin can move at zero tariffs; goods that do not meet the origin rules may be charged the EU's standard duty rate. Whether your products qualify depends on where they and their components were made.
The EU's €22 VAT exemption for low-value imports ended on 1 July 2021. For goods with an intrinsic value up to €150 sent from outside the EU, the IOSS scheme can simplify VAT collection at checkout. Since 1 July 2026, a temporary flat fee of €3 per tariff item applies to relevant low-value imports from outside the EU and is planned to apply until 1 July 2028. Whether any of this applies to your setup depends on your products and where your customers are.
Have customs, tax or specialist handling requirements? Include them in the fulfilment scan so Vareya can confirm which parts of the proposed setup can be supported.
Capabilities
Shopify integration is available.
Amazon FBM fulfilment is available.
Returns handling is available. Contact Vareya to discuss the required returns process.
Shipments to the United Kingdom may be entered directly into the Royal Mail domestic network. Exact delivery timing depends on the agreed shipping method and is confirmed during qualification.
Cut-off times of up to 23:00 may be available by agreement.
Vareya is generally best suited to brands shipping 500 or more orders per month.
Good fit / may not be a fit
Typically a good fit
- ✓ Vareya is generally best suited to brands shipping 500 or more orders per month.
- ✓ Vareya specialises in cosmetics, supplements, phone cases, accessories and other smaller parcel products.
- ✓ Suitable smaller parcels have combined dimensions below 900 mm and a maximum length of 600 mm.
- ✓ Brands selling through Shopify or Amazon FBM. Shopify integration is available. Amazon FBM fulfilment is available.
- ✓ Brands that want EU orders fulfilled from the Netherlands instead of shipped per parcel from Great Britain.
May not be a fit
- ✗ Order volumes well below the 500-orders-per-month level.
- ✗ Parcels that exceed the combined 900 mm / length 600 mm guideline.
- ✗ Products with specialist customs, tax or handling requirements — include them in the fulfilment scan so Vareya can confirm which parts of the proposed setup can be supported.
Product fit is confirmed during qualification.
Frequently asked questions
Does EU-based fulfilment solve all Brexit-related issues for UK brands?
EU-based fulfilment addresses where stock is held and how EU orders are shipped, which changes how often the GB-EU customs border is crossed. It does not remove every trade, tax or customs consideration — those should be discussed during qualification.
What changed for UK brands shipping to the EU after Brexit?
Since the end of the transition period, goods moving from Great Britain to the EU are treated as exports from the UK and imports into the EU, each requiring their own customs declaration. Under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, qualifying goods can move at zero tariffs if origin rules are met and proof of origin is provided; goods that do not meet the origin rules may face standard duty rates.
Does Vareya provide customs or tax services for UK brands?
Have customs, tax or specialist handling requirements? Include them in the fulfilment scan so Vareya can confirm which parts of the proposed setup can be supported.
Do EU customers pay VAT on orders shipped from a UK brand's own stock?
Since 1 July 2021, the EU's €22 low-value VAT exemption no longer applies. For consignments with an intrinsic value up to €150 sent from outside the EU, the IOSS scheme can simplify VAT collection at checkout. Since 1 July 2026, a temporary flat fee of €3 per tariff item applies to relevant low-value imports from outside the EU and is planned to apply until 1 July 2028. Whether this applies depends on the setup and should be confirmed with a customs or tax adviser.
Can shipments to UK customers still go through Vareya?
Shipments to the United Kingdom may be entered directly into the Royal Mail domestic network. Exact delivery timing depends on the agreed shipping method and is confirmed during qualification.
Which markets can Vareya ship to from the Netherlands?
From Breda, Vareya ships to Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States.
What order volume is needed?
Vareya is generally best suited to brands shipping 500 or more orders per month.
Can Vareya handle EU returns for a UK brand?
Returns handling is available. Contact Vareya to discuss the required returns process.
Related fulfilment pages
Assess EU fulfilment for your UK brand
Share your current order profile and destination mix for an initial fulfilment fit assessment.