Inver House Distillers Open New Bottling Plant

[John]

Inver House Distillers has opened its new bottling plant at its headquarters.

The Airdrie bottling hall, a £1million investment for the company, will create 10 jobs and was set up with a regional selective assistance grant from the Scottish Government.

Inver House Distillers has been boosted by millions of pounds of investment by Hong Kong-based parent International Beverage Holdings , part of Thai drink giant ThaiBev.

The bottling plant was opened by ThaiBev chief executive Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, who said: "The plant ensures we can continue to provide our customers with quality, cost competitiveness and flexibility with core brands such as Balblair, anCnoc, Old Pulteney, Speyburn and Hankey Bannister."?

Lena Wilson, chief executive of Scottish Development International, said: "The opening of Inver House's new facility in Airdrie and ThaiBev's confidence in Scotland is excellent news, particularly during this time of economic uncertainty.

"It is also a significant development for our growing food and drink industry, which has been identified as offering a real opportunity for Scotland's economic growth."?

Inver House Distillers owns five distilleries throughout Scotland: Pulteney, Balblair, Speyburn, Knockdhu and Balmenach.

It said last month that sales of its maritime-themed Old Pulteney single malt, produced at Wick, soared 16% by value last year after awareness of the brand was raised through an annual photography competition, sponsorship of high-profile sailing regattas in the UK and various other activities.

Inver House Distillers said it was continuing to target markets in the UK, key areas of continental Europe and South Africa for sales of Old Pulteney, whose distillery was only accessible by sea when it was established in 1826.

The group's Balblair single malt, produced at Edderton, by the Dornoch Firth, saw a 23% rise in sales in 2008. Balblair was relaunched two years ago and Inver House Distillers has since ramped-up its promotion of the whisky to core markets in the UK, France and Japan.

Inver House Distillers said blended malt brand Hankey Bannister - a favourite tipple of former British prime minister Sir Winston Churchill - grew sales by 20% last year, with exports reaching more than 40 countries.

In April, Hankey Bannister 40-year-old was hailed by judges in annual awards for the industry as the world's best blended Scotch.

Inver House Distillers posted pre-tax profits of £7.4million for 2008, nearly double the £3.8million recorded a year earlier. Turnover slid to £51.5million in the latest period, against £57.8million in 2007.

The company said the higher profits were the result of a favourable global market, investment in brands and the success of core operations across the whisky portfolio.

John

Source: Press & Journal