Diageo Scottish workers test positive for coronavirus

Spirits producer Diageo has confirmed that 13 workers at its Glasgow bottling facility have tested positive for Covid-19.

Diageo’s portfolio includes Johnnie Walker blended Scotch whisky

Diageo, producer of brands such as Smirnoff vodka and Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky, said in a statement that employees at its Shieldhall site in Glasgow, Scotland, tested positive for coronavirus over the past week.

A Diageo spokesperson said: “We can confirm that 12 employees from one of our logistics contractors and one other contractor at our Shieldhall packaging plant have tested positive for Covid-19 over the past week.”

The firm added it has “stringent protocols and procedures” in place to ensure its workplaces are as safe as possible.

Diageo said it had followed its safety measures including a deep clean of the applicable areas and thorough contact tracing.

In addition, the drinks producer said a number of other workers have requested to self-isolate as a provision, while additional control measures have also been implemented to prevent on-site transmission.

The statement continued: “We continue to monitor the situation very carefully and we are in touch with the relevant authorities.”

Diageo, the largest Scotch whisky producer, maintained production at its sites during the Covid-19 crisis. In March, Diageo faced calls from Unite to stop production at its bottling and distilling sites in Scotland amid concerns over the safety and stress levels of workers during the pandemic.

The firm announced a £185 million (US$242m) investment in Scotch whisky and tourism in 2018, which included the revamp of 12 visitor centres. The investment also includes a £35m (US$45.7m) pledge to reopen closed distilleries Port Ellen and Brora.

The new flagship Johnnie Walker visitor centre in Edinburgh is due to open next summer.