Bushmills Announces Expansion Plans

The world's oldest whiskey, Bushmills has announced that it will create more jobs, with plans to more than double production of their world-famous whiskey over the next three years.

The distillery, which currently employs 108 staff, will need to recruit more staff over the next five years, as the plan is to increase production from 450,000 cases annually to over a million by 2012.

The plans will also include further building development at the 401-year-old distillery, which is located in the Co Antrim village, with a new maturation warehouse being required.

The expansion plans were revealed by NI Employment Minister Sir Reg Empey during a visit to the distillery.

Commenting on the plans, Sir Reg said: "In these difficult times, it is good to see one of our oldest companies weathering the current economic storm.

"The company has seen many a recession during its 400-year history and it has survived by ensuring it moves with the times, has a well-trained workforce and provides a top quality end product.

"The proposed rise in the number of employees in the distillery is welcome news to the local area, which has seen its share of redundancies over the past eighteen months. I congratulate the Old Bushmills Distillery on its global success and its continued popularity."

Diageo acquired the Bushmills Distillery from Pernod Ricard for £200 million in 2005. The company moved to seven-day operations following a successful trial at Christmas 2007.

(KMcA/BMcC)