Pernod breaks ground on £50m Chivas bottling site

Pernod Ricard’s Scotch whisky business Chivas Brothers has broken ground on its new £50 million bottling hall in Kilmalid, Dumbarton.

A ceremony was held at the Kilmalid site to mark the start of construction on the new bottling hall

Around 50 Chivas Brothers employees, Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie and representatives of West Dunbartonshire Council attended a ceremony to mark the start of construction of the new bottling hall.

The expansion, which includes an office complex as well as the bottling facility, aims to enhance Chivas Brothers’ capabilities, while bringing “outstanding performance in quality, safety and efficiency”.

During the ceremony, Baillie was given a behind the scenes tour of the Chivas Brothers’ facility, which explained how the investment will help modernise manufacturing. The Dumbarton MSP later praised the Scotch whisky producer and its commitment to the future of the region.

Baillie said: “Chivas Brothers’ investment is a huge boost for Dunbartonshire and will secure and create jobs over the long-term.

“The people of Dumbarton are very proud of the town’s great whisky heritage and I’m delighted to be able to mark this very special milestone with Chivas Brothers.

“I’ve watched the development of the project closely and look forward to watching the bottling hall start to take shape.”

The expansion is scheduled for completion in 2019 and will bring hundreds of jobs to the local area. Following the opening of the new site, Chivas’s Paisley operations will transfer to the new Kilmalid facility.

Construction of the new £50 million bottling plant at Chivas Brothers’ Kilmalid site in Scotland was given the green light in October 2017.