Irish Distillers confirms £100m expansion
Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard has confirmed it will spend €100m on the 2012 expansion of its Midleton Single Distillery, the site where Jameson is produced.
In May Drinks International reported that plans had been hatched for an expansion that would see capacity of the pot still and grain distilleries double.
Pot still capacity will go from 10 million litres to 22 million litres and grain from 20-21 million litres to 40 million litres.
The expansion is intended to relieve pressure on the Cork-based distillery which is currently running at capacity.
Anna Malmhake, chairman and CEO of Irish Distillers, said: “This expansion project is a reflection of the international success of Jameson and the great future potential for the brand. The brand reached the three million cases milestone in 2010 – one million of which were sold in the US.
“With this investment, we are confirming Midleton, where the tradition of distilling dates back to 1825, as the global centre of Irish whiskey production.”
The 15-month project begins in 2012 and, according to Irish Distillers, will create 60 manufacturing and technical jobs while 250 construction positions will also arise from the expansion.
Irish Distillers has said it will also also be increasing the 33,000 tonnes of barley it sources from the local area.
The news follows Irish Distillers’ announcement earlier this year that €100m had been invested in a whiskey maturation facility in Dungourney near Midleton.