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Inside Diageo’s new innovation lab focusing on ‘grain-to-glass’ sustainable growth
Drinks giant Diageo has opened a “state-of-the-art” £6.4 million innovation and research laboratory in Scotland.
Cabinet secretary for environment, climate change & land reform, Roseanna Cunningham, tours Diageo’s new research centre.
The research centre in Menstrie, Clackmannanshire, will be home to Diageo’s science, technology and innovation projects across the drinks industry supply chain.
Cabinet secretary for environment, climate change & land reform, Roseanna Cunningham, said the group, which makes Johnnie Walker whisky and Tanqueray gin, makes a “significant contribution” to Scotland’s economy, and playing a key role in the local tourism industry.
“I commend their support for our island communities through investment in developing and enhancing our distillery heritage,” she said at the site’s official opening on Friday 11 October.
In an emailed statement, Diageo said the research centre would help to improve sustainability “at every stage of the supply chain including distillation, maturation, packaging and logistics.”
David Cutter, Diageo’s chief sustainability officer, said the new research hub will provide an “opportunity to lead the next generation of research into sustainability throughout our supply chain for the future.”
“For over a century we have been at forefront of scientific and technological advances in the distilling industry,” he said, “and with these state-of-the-art facilities we are now investing in the next 100 years of innovation and growth.”
“We have exceptionally talented people and these new laboratories provide a great environment for them to do their best work.
“We are particularly excited about the opportunity to lead the next generation of research into sustainability throughout our supply chain for the future.”
Diageo workers who are members of Unite were set to strike at two key production facilities in Scotland last month over a long-running pay dispute, but industrial action was called off when the trade union accepted a revised pay offer the night before they were due to take place.
Diageo reported a 3% rise in operating profit to £4.042 billion with reported net sales up 5.8% to £12.9 billion in the year to 30 June 2019.