DISTILLING
Diageo strikes called off after new offer made Strike action has been suspended at spirits giant Diageo’s Scottish operations after management and unions struck a last-minute pay deal. Workers had been set to walk out at dozens of sites after unions rejected a “ nal” pay offer of 2.8%, But a deal was struck shortly before the rst of a wave of strikes was due to start. The Unite and GMB unions said they would now consult their members on the new offer. The offer is understood to be a two-year deal with a 3% rise this year and an increase in pay next year, in line with the retail price index (RPI) rate as it stands in June 2020. A new collective agreement will also be negotiated by then. Irish whiskey gains GI status in India The Irish Whiskey Association (IWA) has won a geographical indi- cation (GI) for Irish whiskey sold in India, marking the IWA’s latest international legal win this year. The protection means that only spirits produced in Ireland can use “Irish whiskey” on their label. India is the largest whiskey market in the world with 2.3 billion bottles sold last year, according to the IWA, the vast bulk of which is domestically produced. Four of the world’s 10 fastest-growing spirits brands in 2018 are produced in India, according to gures from IWSR. In 2018, sales of Irish whiskey doubled to 34,000 cases, accord- ing to the association’s annual report published in May this year. The IWA is now targeting further growth internationally, par- ticularly in high-growth city regions such as Delhi, but also in Latin America, and the US. Irish Whiskey gained a protected GI in European Union member countries in April this year, after the IWA rst applied for it in 2014. The IWA secured legal protection in South Africa for the rst time last month, and also won a trademark for Irish whiskey in Australia in
February this year. The Drinks Industry
William Grant reports double-digit revenue growth The Scottish group’s
turnover hit £1.325 billion (US$1.631bn) in the year, while pro t after tax increased at the lower rate of 4% to £260 million (US$320m)
following a raft of “signi cant investments”. William Grant is private- ly-owned and therefore not obliged to disclose nancial performance. In 2018, William Grant & Sons opened its new distillery and ‘gin palace’ for Hendrick’s; relaunched the Grant’s blended Scotch range; and opened a new luxury packaging facility in Scotland called Arete. The rm also expanded its portfolio with a number of new brands, including: Discarded, an innovative cascara-infused vermouth; “every- day single malt” Aerstone; and Fistful of Bourbon, its rst American whiskey brand developed in house. This year has seen the group enter the low-alcohol category with the launch of 0.5% ABV ‘spirit’ Atopia and expand its gin stable with the creation of Spain-inspired Verano. “We’re delighted to report another year of double-digit top-line growth for our business,” said CEO Simon Hunt. “As an independent family-owned business, we have made bold decisions to grow the business the right way by investing in our people, our brands and our infrastructure to deliver sustainable long-term growth.” 2018 also saw the company donate £3.2m (US$3.9m) to charity through the William Grant & Sons Foundation.
BREWER AND DISTILLER INTERNATIONAL ● 23
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker