The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Perthshire distillery begins to distribute free sanitiser
A Highland Perthshire distillery has begun distributing 2,000 bottles of free hand sanitiser to key workers and those at risk in their local community.
Blair Athol Distillery is supplying the sought-after product to emergency services, care homes and vulnerable people around Pitlochry, Aberfeldy and the surrounding villages.
The 500ml bottles of hand gel have been made to the World Health Organisation formulation with the liquid developed at the company’s laboratories in Menstrie and production and packaging undertaken by staff at the Leven packaging plant in Fife.
The Diageo-owned distillery has already delivered the sanitiser to Balhousie Care Group, the Atholl Centre and Kirkmichael Village Shop and were approaching other organisations like Aberfeldy Fire Station to see if they need the liquid.
Neil Murphy, senior site manager at the distillery, thanked the efforts of key workers during the ongoing pandemic.
He said: “It’s great to be able to give back and help protect the people in our community during this difficult time.
“We’re incredibly humbled by the tireless efforts of frontline workers across Scotland and are really proud to be able to make a difference and help boost the morale of key frontline workers in the area.”
More than 55,000 bottles of free hand sanitiser will be distributed to communities across Scotland where Diageo has distilleries and operations, including Fife, Clackmannanshire and Renfrewshire.
Ewan Andrew, president of Diageo global supply and procurement, said: “This initiative has very much been driven by our people at our sites, the length and breadth of Scotland, who want to contribute locally in their communities, especially those who are in the frontline of this crisis.
“I am extremely proud of every employee and our suppliers who have contributed to this project, from the scientific and regulatory teams who developed the process through all the colleagues working to make and distribute it to the community.”
He added: “It has been inspiring to hear about our suppliers joining us in this effort and volunteering their goods and services to help local communities. We are hugely grateful to them for all their efforts.”