Diageo unveils Scottish investment

Drinks giant Diageo today unveiled £100m (€149m) investment plans to boost scotch whisky production in Scotland, creating 200 jobs.

The maker of Johnnie Walker whisky said the investment – its largest in Scotland for 20 years – came at a time of sustained growth in the worldwide whisky business.

Diageo said earlier today that sales increased 6% to £4.02bn (€6bn) for the second half of last year, driven by an 8% net growth in spirit sales.

The company is to spend £40m (€60m) on expanding its grain distillery in Cameronbridge, Fife, where Johnnie Walker, J&B and Bell’s are made.

Diageo is also investing £40m (€60m) on a new malt distillery to increase production capacity for its single malts which include Talisker, Lagavulin and Dalwhinnie. Its preferred site for the scheme is at Roseisle on Speyside.

An extra £20m (€30m) will also fund the expansion of bottling capacity at the firm’s Shieldhall packaging plant in Glasgow and extra warehousing space in central Scotland.

Diageo’s managing director of global supply David Gosnell said: “Scotch whisky is an iconic product, enjoyed all over the world. It makes a unique contribution to Scotland.

“This investment is good news for both the scotch whisky industry and the Scottish economy.”