Significant announcement on future of Guinness brewery due tomorrow
5/8/2008 - 7:34:21 PMDrinks giant Diageo is to make a "significant" announcement on the future of its flagship Guinness brewery in Dublin tomorrow, it emerged tonight.
The firm refused to comment on speculation that it plans to relocate part of the St James's Gate premises to a green field site in the west of the city.
Diageo currently employs 2,500 staff at plants in Dublin, Dundalk, Kilkenny and Waterford.
As well as Guinness, the firm manufactures other popular drinks such as Smithwicks, Kilkenny and Harp.
Diageo chief executive Paul Walsh will be in Dublin tomorrow for a news conference at St James's Gate at 9am.
"There will be a significant announcement at the news conference,'' a spokesman said.
"It relates to a year-long assessment of the firm's brewing operations.''
The Guinness Storehouse on the St James' Gate site is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country and has huge historical importance to Dublin.
The 60-acre site on the south side of the Liffey is estimated to be worth more than €1bn to property developers.
Guinness was first brewed on the premises by Arthur Guinness in 1759. Up to four million pints of the stout are now produced there each day.