Whisky giant leaves Kinfauns base for new home in Glasgow

Whisky giants Edrington have closed the doors on their Perth base for the final time.

The firm, which owns the Famous Grouse brand, is centralising office operations at a new headquarters in Glasgow.

The move has affected around 100 local jobs, but the firm insists that it remains committed to the Glenturret distillery, near Crieff.

Almost 40 staff members are expected to transfer to Glasgow, with 18 working on immediate projects and 47 taking the option of redundancy.

The closure of the West Kinfauns site brings to an end the industry’s association with the Fair City, which was also once home to Bell’s and Dewars.

Edrington moved to West Kinfauns in 1996 having previously been based at Bordeaux House, now home to the Bothy restaurant on Mill Street.

Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart said the closure was a loss to the region.

He said: “I am immensely disappointed that Edrington are to close their offices at Kinfauns. Perthshire has historically been a whisky region, with 44 distilleries in 1819, and I am sorry to see the curtain come down on the site at Kinfauns.

“I have never been able to secure a good reason for the closure of the offices and feel that Edrington were well supported at the site.

“The loss of skilled jobs in the area will be a massive blow. Suggestions that many members of staff have chosen to leave rather than move to the new offices would indicate that the decision to leave Kinfauns is the wrong one.”

A spokeswoman for Edrington confirmed that the Kinfauns offices are to be put on the market but declined to elaborate further.