In response to the continued skyrocketing growth of Jameson Irish Whiskey around the world, Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard have announced a 100 million Euro investment in the expansion of its distillery in Midleton, Co. Cork.
The distillery in Midleton is now operating at full capacity and in order to meet the continued growing demand for Jameson, an expansion of the distillery is necessary. As part of the investment, sixy manufacturing and technical jobs will be created, bringing the company’s total employee numbers in Ireland to 560. Thirty of the jobs will be at the distillery in Midleton and thirty at the company’s bottling plant at Fox & Geese in Dublin.
Subject to the normal planning process, 250 construction jobs will arise from the 15-month construction process, which is expected to start in 2012.
There will be additional benefits to the local economy arising from the investment. Irish distillers currently sources 33,000 tons of Irish barley each year, supporting 11,000 acres of farmed land. As the Jameson brand continues to grow, so will the agricultural benefit.
While upholding the heritage and traditions of whiskey distilling at Midleton, the expansion program will include contemporary best-practice methods in environmental sustainability. Per liter of alcohol distilled, there will be a reduction of 33% in energy consumed and 20% in water consumed respectively.
“We are very pleased to announce the investment in our distillery at Midleton today. It is a reflection of the international success of Jameson and the great future potential for the brand,” said Anna Malmhake, Chairman and CEO, Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard. “Jameson is now in its twenty-third consecutive year of growth and is experiencing double-digit growth in forty markets. With this investment, we are confirming Midleton, where the tradition of distilling dates back to 1825, as the global centre of Irish whiskey production.”
As one of the Ireland’s most successful export products, Jameson is playing a leading role in the export-led recovery for the Irish economy. Last week, Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine presented the Bord Bia Food and Drink Export Award to Jameson. At the event he said: “Irish Distillers has shown huge marketing commitment to Irish Whiskey and its exceptional export performance is to be welcomed not only for the sustained double digit growth in exports, but for the fact that it promotes the Irish identity in more than 120 countries around the world. it is proudly rooted in Irish heritage and tradition and its global reaches provides a platform to build awareness and enhance the brand reputation of our entire food and drink industry.”
