Combining the recent themes on the blog of factory closures and drink I am sure that those with an interest in Whisky will be concerned at the news that the international drinks conglomarate Diageo are planning to close the Distilleries that make 'Johnnie Walker' whiskey at Kilmarnock and Port Dundas in the west of scotland. The proposed closures would mean the disappearence of yet another iconic brand from these islands if the proposals go ahead, although it appears that talks between Diageo and the Scottish government have been described by the company as 'constructive'.
Hopefully, 'Johnnie Walker' can keep striding on.
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Whilst closures like this are to be deplored; let us be entirely clear that the ‘Johnnie Walker’ brand will not disappear. Diageo is a brand owner and it makes its money from brands not distilleries or bottling plants (the Kilmarnock plant is a bottling plant and Port Dundas is a distillery). In common with most large companies, Diageo will attempt to maximise its profits by cutting costs as much as possible and that often involves outsourcing (often from abroad) to have the ‘brands’ made wherever it is cheapest – just look at the UK motor industry. At least ‘Johnnie Walker’ and the other whiskies that Diageo make will have to continue to be made in Scotland; no doubt at one of the larger and more cost efficient operations that Diageo control.
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