VALLEYFIELD, Quebec, May 5, 2015 /CNW/ -- Diageo, a global leader in beverage alcohol, announced today the addition of a new canning line at its facility in Valleyfield, Quebec. The C$6.4 million investment will mark the introduction of canning capabilities to the site which distills and bottles a range of Diageo brands. Construction on the line is currently underway and completion is slated for late spring of this year.
The company plans to utilize the new line to can a range of ready-to-drink products, such as Smirnoff Ice Slim Cans, Bevé, Jeremiah Weed flavors, and yet-to-be-released innovations. Products canned on the new line will be available in Canada, and will increase the total annual volume at the site by half of a million cases per year.
"The popularity of the ready-to-drink segment is driving growth, particularly in Canada," said Michel Charpentier, Director of Operations, Valleyfield. "Having the ability to produce cans in our own facility will enable us to meet the demand for ready-to-drink products more efficiently, and make it possible for innovations to go to market faster and more cost-effectively."
"Our ready-to-drink business continues to grow across all provinces, particularly with our Bevé and Smirnoff Ice brands," said Jakob Ripshtein, President, Diageo Canada. "This new line demonstrates our commitment to the long-term success of these brands and this format."
Currently employees at the Valleyfield site oversee the distillation and bottling of a number of Diageo brands that are for sale in Canada and the United States. Valleyfield was acquired in 2008 and it is one of several Canadian production facilities owned by the company. These include Diageo's largest North American distillery in Gimli, Manitoba, most notably known as the home of the iconic Crown Royal Whisky brand. Both the Valleyfield and Gimli facilities support renewable gas captured from landfills, which is serving to reduce the sites' carbon footprints by more than 80 percent and 95 percent, respectively.
About Diageo
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits, beer and wine categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.
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SOURCE Diageo
Alix Dunn, Diageo, [email protected], Kristen Crofoot, for Diageo, [email protected]
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