Kilmarnock's Johnnie Walker factory to shut

Jul 1 2009 By Lorraine Waddell

KILMARNOCK’S flagship Johnnie Walker factory is closing.

The site, run by Diageo will shut by the end of 2011, costing the local economy around 700 jobs, according to an announcement made to devastated employees at the site this morning.

Along with the Kilmarnock site, the company which owns famous names such as Guinness, Smirnoff and of course Johnnie Walker whisky, Diageo will also close its Port Dundas distillery.

Meanwhile there will be £86million invested in their Fife packaging plant and £3million pumped into Shieldhall packaging plant in Glasgow.

Bryan Donaghey, Managing Director of Diageo Scotland, said: “These decisions have been extremely difficult to take. We have only reached them after an exhaustive review of all the possible alternatives.

"I am sorry for the impact this announcement will have on our employees and their families in Kilmarnock and Glasgow and the difficulty this will cause in Kilmarnock where we are a major employer."

* We would like to hear from you if you are affected by this story. Please leave your comment below, call our newsdesk on 01563 525 115 or e-mail kilmarnockstandard@s-un.co.uk.

* For much more on this breaking story, read today’s Kilmarnock Standard.