Tullamore to curtail production
Irish whiskey maker Tullamore will pause production for three of its nine stills, with a further three to be paused at a later date.
Major whiskey distilleries across the globe continue to make significant cutbacks, with the Tullamore Distillery the latest to announce a reduced production schedule for 2025. The distillery will shut down three of its nine stills for three months, with an additional three to receive the same treatment later this year.
William Grant & Sons, which purchased Tullamore Dew in 2010, had no comment to add following initial reports of a production pause. The decision is reportedly unrelated to prospective tariffs and will not result in job losses.
Aoife Masterson, Sinn Féin councillor for Tullamore, called the move “a devastating blow that will result in immense stress and uncertainty for many.” However, reports indicate there will be no job losses, as a majority of on-site jobs are on the bottling line.
At an April municipal district meeting, councillor Declan Harvey said Tullamore staff have assured him there will be no job cuts.
“There are a couple of machines closed down temporarily at this time of the year. It’s an ongoing thing; there are no job losses. Staff out there will get their increases and wages. They are hoping to expand this year again,” Harvey said. “Some people said to me on the street that they heard Tullamore Dew was in trouble. As far as I am aware, they are not in any trouble. They are doing very well; they are doing what they do every year. They have seasonal workers; they bring them in and bring them out. Staff there all have their jobs – I am just clarifying that.”
Many whisky distillers are scaling down production as supply has outpaced demand after years of growth and investment across the category. This month, Irish Distillers suspended production until summer.
In some cases, these distillery shutdowns are extended pauses that would otherwise be a routine part of the production schedule, used for cleaning, maintenance, and other upkeep.
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