Taoiseach marks €100m Midleton expansion
This represents the second €100 million investment by Pernod Ricard, the first being the planned 40-unit warehousing facilities at Dungourney also announced last year and due to come into operation in 2014, raising the present 3.5 million case capacity to 10 million.
The company announced the expansion of both distillery and warehousing facilities in response to the continued growth of Jameson worldwide. Jameson sold 3.4 million cases in the year to the end of June 2011 and the Distillery is now operating at full capacity so an expansion is necessary.
The Taoiseach’s visit also marked the 20th anniversary of the Jameson Experience, the Jameson visitor centre in Midleton, which has welcomed in excess of two million visitors since it first opened its doors in 1992.
As part of the investment, 60 manufacturing and technical jobs will be created, 30 in the Midleton Distillery and a further 30 in the Fox and Geese bottling plant in Dublin, bringing the company’s total employee numbers in Ireland to 560. Separately, up to 250 jobs will result from the construction process. There will also be a significant benefit to the local economy as the Distillery currently spends in excess of €60m annually on cereals, energy, capital projects and payroll in the local economy.
The expansion will benefit from significant energy and water use efficiencies as a result of the incorporation of the latest state-of-the-art design techniques.
“Today marks a significant day in the future of Irish whiskey production and the entire food and drinks export industry as well as for the local economy here in Cork which has greatly benefited from the presence of both the distillery and the Jameson Experience Visitors Centre,” stated The Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD, speaking at the event.
IDL’s Chief Executive and Chairman Anna Malmhake added, “This is a fantastic day for Irish Distillers – and for Irish business. The €100 million investment in Midleton is a reflection of the growing international success of Jameson and the future potential of our entire Irish Whiskey portfolio. With a tradition dating back to 1780, Jameson has been distilled in the Midleton distillery since 1975 and we are delighted to confirm our commitment to this tradition and at the same time we continue to embrace progress and to deliver new and innovative expressions of Irish Whiskey.
“The success of our visitor’s centre, The Jameson Experience, which is today celebrating its 20th anniversary, emphasises the popularity of Jameson as a brand, not only domestically, but worldwide. With over two million visitors passing through its doors since 1992, the contribution it makes to Irish tourism and the local economy in Cork is immense.”
Also in attendance were Mr Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine; IDL’s Production Director Peter Morehea and John Callely, Managing Director of the Watercourse Distillery, the Dublin (Old Jameson Distillery) and Cork (Jameson Experience) visitor facilities of Irish Distillers Limited.
