Diageo completes £150m warehouse complex

Diageo has completed the construction of a new £150m warehouse complex in Fife, as part of last year's pledge to invest £1bn in its Scotch operations over a five-year period.

The 545 acre Cluny Bond development at Begg Farm near Kirkcaldy, includes 46 warehousing units - each of which will store up to 60,000 casks – and will house the additional spirit needed to meet demand for its major brands such as the 18.9m 9-litre case Johnnie Walker.

In addition to the two completed warehouses, Diageo reported a further five will be operational in Spring 2014 with others being completed throughout 2014.

The world’s largest drinks group also recently invested at its Blackgrange facility in Clackmannanshie taking overall investment in warehousing to £180m.

The new Fife complex will create 25 direct Diageo jobs on site, as well as a potential further 15-20 indirect jobs in the area.

Harry Fox, Diageo’s operations director for warehouse and blending, said: “Over the next few months we will be transporting thousands of casks of Scotch whisky for storage here, where they will be locked away and left to mature before making their way to the 180 countries around the world where the demand for Diageo’s brands is growing on a daily basis.

 “Diageo has more than 1,200 people working for the company in Fife and the new team at Cluny Bond share their commitment to continue to ensure the area plays a key role in the Scotch whisky success story.”