FDBusiness.com

Speyburn Distillery is to undergo a £4 million expansion to double production capacity in response to the rising demand for Scotch whisky globally. The development programme is due to be completed by the end of 2014.

Speyburn is part of the Inver House Distillers portfolio, which is owned by International Beverage Holdings. The distillery investment will increase Speyburn’s production capacity from 1.8 million litres to over 4 million litres each year, allowing the business to lay down stock for predicted future growth in both established and emerging markets – with the brand’s volume growth forecast at 15 per cent for the 2013/2014 period.

The expansion design will significantly reduce the distillery’s energy consumption per litre of alcohol and improve its carbon footprint, with predicted energy savings of more than 20 percent once the extended distillery is up and running. This will be achieved by using the most up-to-date and energy efficient distillation equipment – whilst maintaining the distillery’s traditional methods of production. The expansion will also provide a boost for local businesses, with Rothes-based whisky specialists Forsyths contracted to manufacture all new production equipment and Elgin-based construction company Robertson also undertaking elements of the project.

Often described as one of the nation’s most photographed distilleries, Speyburn Distillery was founded in 1897 and produces Speyburn Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, which is already a top 10 malt brand in the USA – the biggest Scotch single malt market in the world.

Inver House Distillers’ Managing Director Graham Stevenson comments: “As we continue to be very optimistic about the long term potential for Scotch whisky, particularly in the emerging BRIC, African and South East Asian economies, investment in our production capabilities is crucial. Having the infrastructure in place to produce our high quality whiskies in greater quantities will be key to the future success of our brands, so we are delighted to see the first phase of this major programme of work get underway at Speyburn Distillery.”

Established in 2006, as the international arm of ThaiBev, International Beverage Holdings specialises in developing distinctive, premium local brands for global growth, with a portfolio that is led by a range of high quality Scotch whiskies and includes some of the fastest growing beers, spirits and whiskies on the market today.