A dormant whisky bottling plant in Coatbridge has been brought back into full production, creating 33 jobs in Lanarkshire.

Finance Secretary John Swinney, officially opened Angus Dundee Distillers modernised facility today (24 April). He also toured the buildings and warehouses that have been brought back to life as a result of investment by the company and a £460,000 Regional Selective Assistance Grant from Scottish Enterprise.

Angus Dundee supplies four per cent of the world’s Scotch whisky and blended and single malts are sent to 70 countries across the world from the Coatbridge site, contributing to the 23 per cent growth in whisky exports from Scotland last year.

Increasing exports is an essential part of the Scottish Government’s Economic Strategy and the whisky industry makes a huge contribution to building sustainable economic growth.

Finance Secretary John Swinney said: "The global success of Scotch whisky contributed a record breaking £4.23 billion pounds to the Scottish economy last year. Seeing this bottling hall up and running again underlines how this filters down to local economies, creating jobs in the process.

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"I am pleased that the Scottish Government has been able to assist with this development in Coatbridge and we will continue, through our National Food and Drink Policy, to support the whisky industry.

"The industry makes a huge contribution to our economy, it directly employs ten thousand people and indirectly supports another 35,000 jobs as well as creating £1.1 billion of demand for Scottish suppliers. Angus Dundee has a reputation as one of Scotland’s finest whisky producers and through continued investment this will continue to grow and strengthen, both at home and abroad."

Chairman of Angus Dundee Distillers Plc, Terence Hillman said: "The Coatbridge plant has been renovated by Angus Dundee Distillers Plc after being dormant for many years.

"As an independent British company, with two Single Malt distilleries, we are pleased that we have been able to create more than 30 new jobs within the local community by re-opening the bottling hall. We are continuing our improvements of the 10-acre site, which also includes warehousing and blending facilities.

"This is part of Angus Dundee Distillers Plc’s expansion to meet the increasing demand for its Scotch Whisky products worldwide."

Company growth support director for Scottish Enterprise Jim Watson said: "Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International have worked closely with Angus Dundee to provide an integrated package of account management support including help in targeting new overseas markets and increasing international exports, advice on improving strategy development, and Regional Selective Assistance funding of £460,000 towards the development of this bottling hall.

"Angus Dundee is a globally focused, outward-looking company that is committed to improving its productivity, increasing its turnover and creating long-term sustainable success. We want to encourage more businesses to learn from Angus Dundee's experiences and investment in its own growth. In doing so, we can help drive home renewed growth for the Scottish economy."

(GK)