Responding to the company’s announcement concerning plans to redevelop The Macallan estate in Speyside, which was founded in 1824, Lochhead called it “great news for Speyside and the whole of Scotland”.
“Edrington's £100M investment will result in a breath-taking and iconic distillery and visitor centre which will create jobs and further enhance our global reputation for producing the finest food and drink."
The revamped site is to be designed by London-based architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, which also designed The Millennium Dome.
Edrington said it hoped it would help consolidate the position of single malt whisky The Macallan as one of the world’s leading luxury spirits brands.
New international markets
Over time the distillery is expected to deliver additional capacity to meet growing demand from existing and new international markets, it added.
“This is a confident investment in the future of The Macallan and its home on Speyside,” Edrington ceo Ian Curle said. “As this long-term investment develops it will bring significant employment and economic benefit to the local community.”
Subject to receiving planning consent, work on the project is scheduled to begin in autumn 2014 and is due to be completed in spring 2017.
Aside from The Macallan, Edrington’s spirits brands include The Famous Grouse, Cutty Sark and Highland Park. In addition to its core brand, it acquired Snow Leopard vodka earlier this year.
It was the largest food and drink company on the Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250 league table, published in October. The company came sixth in the list of mid-market private companies, ranked by sales, clocking up annual sales of £591.3M and operating profit of £179.3M.
It employs more than 2,200 people worldwide, 60% of whom are based overseas, and is owned by charitable trust The Robertson Trust.