Diageo builds £6.4m site for technical teams

Diageo has ramped up its investment in Scotland with the construction of a £6.4 million (US$8.4m) ‘technical centre of excellence’.

Pictured: Ewan Andrew (right), managing director of the Diageo International Supply Centre and Alan Kennedy, science and technology director of the Diageo International Supply Technical Centre

Based in Menstrie, Clackmannanshire, the centre will upgrade facilities for Diageo’s whisky blending, science and technology, and materials-testing teams.

The building, which is currently under construction, will be based on an unused plot of land next to Diageo’s current technical centre, which is home to teams that work across the group’s portfolio of global brands, including Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff and Captain Morgan.

The existing centre will continue to operate as normal during the period of construction.

Diageo said the new site “will also be a hub for innovation, not just in the spirits industry, but in environmental sustainability in manufacturing”.

“Our technical centre in Menstrie is a crucial part of our business globally, delivering excellence in science and innovation,” said Ewan Andrew, director of Diageo International Supply Centre.

“This investment will create new state-of-the-art facilities for our talented team of whisky specialists and scientists to enhance the industry-leading work they do on growing and protecting our business around the world.”

Clackmannanshire is already home to Diageo’s largest warehousing site, as well as its Cambus cooperage, Abercrombie coppersmiths and global brand archive.

In April this year, Diageo announced its plan to invest £150m (US$215m) on a new Johnnie Walker experience in Edinburgh and an upgrade programme for its Scotch whisky visitor centres.