Diageo announced plans today for a new CAD$245 million distillery to support momentum and growth ambitions for its Crown Royal Canadian Whisky brand. The facility, with capacity to produce up to 20 million LAA’s (liters of absolute alcohol, the equivalent to 10.5 million proof gallons) annually, will sit on approximately 400 acres in Ontario’s St. Clair Township, and includes a distillery, as well as blending and warehousing operations.
Diageo’s ‘Society 2030:Spirit of Progress’ sustainability action plan will shape the design and development of the distillery. It will feature resource efficiency technologies and will operate with 100% renewable energy to ensure the new distillery is carbon neutral and zero-waste to landfill from all direct operations.
“A low-carbon world is essential for a sustainable future, so I am thrilled to announce our first carbon neutral distillery in Canada as we continue to build momentum in our journey to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2030,” said Perry Jones, President, North America Supply for Diageo. “We celebrate such a significant milestone for our Crown Royal brand, our North American operations and global footprint.”
Investing in Canada
With three production facilities across the country and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Diageo employs approximately 700 people in the country and is one of the major producers of spirits in Canada. Over the last 3 years, the company has invested about CAD$75 million to develop some of the most technologically advanced and environmentally sustainable distilleries and production capabilities in Canada.
The new Diageo St. Clair Distillery will supplement the company’s existing Canadian manufacturing operations in Amherstburg, Ontario, Gimli, Manitoba, and Valleyfield, Quebec. This project will represent a further investment in Canada by Diageo of CAD$245 million, over the next three years. Once operational, this new facility will provide dozens of jobs in the local community, furthering Crown Royal’s commitment to generosity and giving back.
Construction is anticipated to begin in the second half of 2022, and the distillery is expected to be operational in 2025.
