Diageo is to build a new £50 million (€58.6 million) malt whisky distillery in the Scottish Highlands and expand the capacity of two other facilities as part of its £1 billion(€1.17 billion) five-year investment programme in Scotch, launched last year.
The drinks giant announced that it is to build a new distillery next to the company's existing Teaninich distillery, near Alness. Despite its proximity, the new site is to have “its own name and identity” and will create up to 20 new jobs, Diageo said.
The facility’s 16 copper stills will have the capacity to produce around 13 million litres of spirit per year. An on-site bio-energy plant will also be constructed to convert co-products into green energy to power the distillery. Work is expected to start next year.
Additionally, Diageo is doubling the capacity of the existing Teaninich distillery with a £12 million investment. Both distilleries will be used to supply Diageo's blended Scotch brands.
The group also announced plans to invest £30 million in new production facilities in Speyside, including “substantially” increasing the capacity of its Mortlach distillery at Dufftown, with the addition of a new stillhouse.
A new plant at Glendullan to process co-products in an anaerobic digestion process and produce bio-gas to power the Glendullan distillery is also being planned.
Elsewhere in Scotland, plans are underway for a “major expansion” of Glen Ord Distillery, near Muir of Ord, and the construction of a new warehousing at Cluny near Kirkcaldy is also underway.
Bryan Donaghey, managing director, Diageo Scotland, said, “This announcement is a significant milestone in our £1 billion investment programme in Scotland to support the global growth of our Scotch whisky brands. The plans also demonstrate Diageo’s commitment to building a sustainable business through investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.” (11 April)
© 2013 - ESM: European Supermarket Magazine by Sadhbh Connor
