Diageo to Invest €153 Million in Dublin Brewery
Diageo is to make a capital investment of Eur153 million in a brewing centre of excellence at its famous St James’s Gate site in Dublin. The decision follows a major review looking at how Diageo can best ensure the long term sustainability of its brewing operations in Ireland.
The capital investment programme will result in a rejuvenation of the historic St James’s Gate Brewery, resulting in the creation of 300 construction jobs during the building of a new brewhouse, which will get underway, subject to planning permission, in the first half of this year. The plans for implementation at St James’s Gate over the next two years will be an important part of securing the long term competitiveness of Diageo’s beer business and by concentrating all brewing activity on the St James’s Gate site will underpin the company’s commitment to Ireland.
David Gosnell, president of Diageo Global Supply, comments: “The decision to consolidate to the St James’ Gate site is fundamental to delivering the competitiveness necessary for the long term sustainability of our brewing in Ireland. This is a significant investment and an expression of confidence by Diageo in our Irish operations.”
The scope of the proposed brewery development includes (subject to planning permission):
* A new brewhouse facility on the Northlands of St James’s Gate (Victoria Quay).
* The new brewhouse volume will have a capacity of approximately 7 million hectolitres.
*A new grain intake building and associated silos.
* An extension of the existing fermentation plant to the southwest of the new brewery.
* Extension to utilities generation and distribution.
The centralisation of all Diageo Irish brewing activities at one site, which was first announced in 2008, will entail the ceasing of brewing activities at Kilkenny and Dundalk. Originally, the two breweries were due to close by the end of 2012 but this has been deferred. These sites are now scheduled for closure in July 2013 (Dundalk) and December 2013 (Kilkenny) subject to planning and construction timelines at St James’s Gate.
