spirits – Licensed & Catering News (LCN) – News Coverage from the Local Trade

Diageo confirms expansion plans for Mallusk facility

Joe Kearney — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 10:11:52 +0000

Diageo has confirmed plans for a major extension on a 17-acre site at its Mallusk facility.

The Baileys and Guinness owner has lodged a proposal of application notice with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council ahead of a community consultation.

The extension at the Enterprise Way plant is planned to “support production demand”.

In May, LCN reported that the drinks giant was planning a major extension and redevelopment at its Mallusk site on the back of growing demand for Baileys.

In April, the company reported a £24.5m investment to expand capacity at its packaging facility in Belfast which is set to double its canning production through a new “state-of-the-art packaging line” capable of producing 72,000 cans per hour.

In Newtownabbey, the proposed development will include additional warehouse capacity, staff facilities and associated plant equipment as well as increased staff car parking, trailer bays, external lighting and landscaping.

A spokesperson for Diageo said: “Diageo is looking at the opportunity to extend its warehousing facilities at its Baileys Global Supply site at Mallusk.

“The facility’s warehousing is currently at capacity and requires the development of new storage to support demand and avoid bottlenecking in production.

“As part of the plans, Diageo will be conducting a comprehensive community consultation in advance of the submission of any application.”

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council said: “The council has received a pre-application notice (PAN) for a large scale investment proposal from Diageo Baileys Global Supply to extend their existing facility at Mallusk.

“The applicant is currently undertaking community consultation in advance of submitting their planning application.”

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Diageo scores with NFL sponsorship deal

Joe Kearney — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 15:11:56 +0000

One of the world’s biggest drinks companies has scored a touchdown by signing a multi-year deal with the NFL to become the league’s first spirits sponsor.

While American football and the National Football League has long had relationships with the likes of Bud Light, it was just a few years ago that distillers couldn’t even advertise during games – the first such ad for Diageo’s Crown Royal whisky tied to a responsible drinking message.

Nana-Yaw Asamoah, vice president of business development and sponsorship for the NFL, said: “What they’ve done from a responsibility standpoint to us, really stood head and shoulders above other spirit companies in the marketplace. And that goes for their marketing standards, which hold themselves to a higher standard than the rest of the market.

‘Spirits partner’

“We always take the approach that we don’t have to be first, but we want to make sure to get it right. After looking at other leagues and how they approached the spirits base and how we started in 2017 — in 2019 we allowed our teams to start having relationships with spirits brands, 20 of which have a spirits partner, so we really felt like this was a good time.”

The spirits industry’s advertising spending fell during the height of the Covid pandemic in 2020 but is up 20% in the first quarter of 202, according to Kantar Media.

Financial terms and the length of the deal between Diageo and the NFL have bot been made public but it will include all of Diageo’s spirits portfolio.

In addition to displaying the brands’ logos and TV advertisements to the NFL’s millions of fans, Diageo also has plans to display its partnership with the football league in US off licences and will sponsor the NFL’s annual Fan of the Year contest.

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Evidence now sought for Alcohol Duty Review

Joe Kearney — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 09:31:50 +0000

The government has now issued a call for evidence for the much-anticipated Alcohol Duty Review that was announced at the 2020 Budget in March.

The review will take into account the UK’s departure from the European Union and may lead to reform of the current system which, the document argues, is complex and inconsistent.

The government has said that its aim is to simplify the current model, create a more ‘economically rational’ system with ‘fewer distortions and arbitrary distinctions’, and reduce administrative burdens for businesses when paying duty.

The call for evidence was welcomed recently by Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA), who said:

‘The UK’s wine and spirits sector generates almost £50bn a year in economic activity, supporting some 360,000 jobs and contributing a huge £17bn to the public purse. The current excise duty regime is complex and fails to support UK consumers, UK businesses, especially SMEs, or the Exchequer.’

Mr Beale argues that the existing EU framework is unnecessarily complex and has created a distorted market and an uneven competitive playing field for suppliers and producers:

‘Any new system needs to be both simpler and fairer to all products than the current one,’ he warns. ‘This would benefit UK consumers, support business growth and increase revenue to the Exchequer.’

And he adds:

‘As the largest and most broadly based UK trade association, the WSTA is well-placed to contribute to a review that should consider the operation of the whole of the excise duty system for alcoholic drinks, not just product rates.’

Mr Beale also cautioned:

‘A thorough review will take time to complete and then implement. We have some concerns about businesses’ capacity to contribute given a deadline at the end of November, which falls during the period including the vast twin challenges for autumn 2020, one of the most important Christmas trading periods in modern times and preparations for the end of the transition period. But we note that this call for evidence is only the first phase and that there will be future opportunities for respondents and stakeholders to contribute.’

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Blackwater Tasters Club officially launched

Joe Kearney — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 13:26:56 +0000

Blackwater Distillery officially launched its Blackwater Tasters Club recently with a virtual event.

The club is an Irish first, offering members the opportunity to explore the world of distilling delivered to your door. Every two months, discover new and exclusive gins and unique spirits, always different and always seasonal with accompanying cocktail recipe cards, bringing new and exciting concoctions to the comfort of your own home. #DrinkResponsibly

The first edition sold out quickly but with a new offering every two months, more members are joining every day, buying single editions or subscribing for a series at https://blackwaterdistillery.ie/blackwater-tasters-club/.

The launch edition included a bottle of Jaffa Cake Gin (makes an awesome Jaffa Gin Fizz or Negroni), and a bottle of Blackwater’s own Limoncello (to create a Limoncello Viaggio) packing a sour/sweet citrus punch. The contents of the next edition, launching on October 16, are yet to be announced but will include an exciting cocktail cabinet staple and another seasonal Gin, all lovingly conceived and created in the Blackwater Distillery.

Each single Blackwater Tasting Club box is priced at €39.99, or subscribe for even better value – six months gets you three boxes for €105 or save a huge 23 per cent with the 12 month membership giving you six boxes for €185. Whether you fancy an occasional treat, want to buy the perfect gift for a gin lover, or fancy a series of spirited surprises for yourself, this is the club to be in!

Each beautifully presented and 100 per cent recyclable box will contain two 200ml bottles, usually at least one of gin and occasionally another small batch spirit, together with detailed recipes to create the cocktails they inspired. The suggested cocktails use only readily available ingredients and each box delivers at least eight to 10 cocktails or G&T serves. As a member of The Blackwater Tasters Club, you also receive exclusive invites, member benefits and expertise from their team of distillers and mixologists. With each delivery, there’s an invitation for Blackwater Tasters Club members to join a virtual party with the Blackwater team and enjoy hearing the stories behind the spirits you’ll enjoy, with a tasting and a demonstration of the suggested cocktails.

Based in Ballyduff Upper in west Waterford since 2014, Blackwater has crafted a range of award-winning gins, vodka and traditional pot still Irish whisky.

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