Diageo is moving a large chunk of its beer and ale production out of Dublin to free up space for more Guinness production at the famous St James’s Gate site.
The plans will see the drinks giant invest €200m in what it claims will be Ireland’s first purpose-built carbon-neutral brewery on a greenfield site in Littleconnell, Newbridge, Co. Kildare. The new facility will brew lagers and ales, including Rockshore, Harp, Hop House 13, Smithwick’s, Kilkenny and Carlsberg. When fully operational, it will be the second largest brewing operation in Ireland after St. James’s Gate.
The new brewery will be powered with renewable energy and utilise the latest technology to minimise overall energy and water consumption.
Diageo stated that as the production of lagers and ales is transferred to the new facility, it will enable its St James’s Gate brewery to increase the production of Guinness to meet global demand.
Colin O’Brien, Category Head – Global Beer Supply, Diageo said: “Today is a landmark day for Diageo in Ireland. Our plans for a new, state-of-the-art brewery in Kildare, and the developments at St. James’s Gate, will enable growth in overall beer exports from Ireland.
“We are fully committed to embedding sustainability across our business from grain to glass, and this announcement represents the next step in our integrated approach towards achieving one of Diageo’s Society 2030: Spirit of Progress commitments by becoming carbon neutral in our direct operations.”
Diageo will submit a planning application in September this year and, if successful, plans to commence brewing in Kildare in 2024 following a construction period of approximately two years.
