‘GREATER GOOD’
Waterfront distillery to shift production in effort to fight spread of coronavirus
Distiller to make sanitizer
In an effort to meet the unprecedented demand for hand sanitizer amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Hiram Walker and Sons Distillery is shifting gears to produce the germ-killing liquid.
Corby Spirit and Wine, the company that makes the J.P. Wiser brand and manages the waterfront distillery, announced Thursday it intends to add hand sanitizer to the Hiram Walker production line.
“Corby is proud to support the efforts of the Canadian and Ontario governments and communities across the country in fighting the spread of the COVID -19 pandemic,” said Patrick O’driscoll, Chief Executive Officer of Corby, in a news release. “In coordination with local and senior levels of government, we are utilizing our production capacity and Windsor distillery to help provide hand sanitizer to areas where it is in need.”
The company plans to donate its sanitizer “where needed in Windsor,” and to transit garages and collector booths in Toronto, the release said.
“The health and safety of our employees — and our communities — is our top priority,” O’driscoll said. “In times like this, it is important that everyone, especially companies with strong Canadian roots, like ours, prioritize good corporate citizenship and step up in the name of the greater good. I am glad that we were able to form this public/ private partnership and repurpose our spirits production facilities to meet a pressing need.”
Hiram Walker and Sons, which has been in operation for more than 160 years, typically distils 180,000 litres of alcohol each day, the company said.
Mayor Drew Dilkens said the distillery has had multiple conversations with city officials, some as recent as Thursday, about producing hand sanitizer for the region.
“They see an opportunity to help their community and they’re looking at how they can do that,” Dilkens said. Pumping some hand sanitizer out, “that would certainly help the local community.”
Colby did not specify when production would begin, or how much hand sanitizer the Hiram Walker facility would be capable of producing.
“They’re strong community partners and the fact they’re considering this I think is really great,” said Dilkens. “There are a number of things they have to do to make this work so they’re not quite there yet. But they’re very interested in doing it, very interested in helping their community and we’re appreciative that they’re looking at how they can make this happen.”
In a Facebook post Thursday, Liberal MP Irek Kusmierczyk (Windsor-tecumseh) said he had also spoken with Corby Spirit and Wine to learn about its decision to produce hand sanitizer in Windsor.
“Innovation meets inspiration and collaboration,” he wrote, offered “kudos” to the company for its efforts.