That’s the spirit as work starts
Menstrie technical centre
Work on Diageo’s new £6.4m state-of-the-art centre for spirits in Menstrie has commenced.
The company has broken ground on the project’s construction to upgrade facilities for its whisky blending, science and technology and materials testing teams.
It adds to Diageo’s existing facilities in Clackmannanshire, which includes the company’s largest warehousing site at Blackgrange, cooperage at Cambus, coppersmiths Abercrombie in Alloa and global brand archive in Menstrie.
The new technical centre is being built on an area of unused land adjacent to the company’s existing technical centre, which will continue to operate as normal while the new facility is built.
The investment has been backed by Holyrood and Westminster constituency politicians and is seen as positive news for the area’s economy.
MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane Keith Brown said: “This announcement of £6.4 million investment in their site at Menstrie is fantastic news for Clackmannanshire and will be a boost to both the local and Scottish economy. I welcome this further evidence of Diageo’s commitment to the area.”
Luke Graham, MP for Ochil and South Perthshire, said: “It’s great to see more investment coming to the county. I was lucky enough to visit the Menstrie site earlier this year and see first-hand the jobs and apprenticeships created by Diageo.
“Following HM Government’s freeze on whisky and spirit duty, it is good to see businesses with the confidence to invest in our area.”
Director of Diageo International Supply Centre Ewan Andrew pointed out that the centre will be a crucial part of its business globally and help their science and innovation facilities.
He added: “This investment will create new state-of-the-art facilities for our talented team of whisky specialists and scientists to enhance the industryleading work they do on growing and protecting our business around the world.”
The technical centre is home to teams who work across Diageo’s leading global brands, including Johnnie Walker, Bell’s, and J&B Scotch Whiskies, Smirnoff and Ciroc Vodka, Tanqueray and Gordon’s Gin, and Captain Morgan Rum.