Scotch whisky distiller Chivas to leave Paisley

SCOTCH whisky distiller Chivas Brothers is leaving its headquarters site at Paisley, and investing £40 million in an enlarged bottling plant and offices in Dumbarton.

Laurent Lacassagne, chairman and chief executive of Chivas Brothers, said that all permanent employees at the Paisley site would be offered continuing employment with the company at Kilmalid at Dumbarton.

There are 589 staff at Paisley. The Dumbarton site became part of the Chivas Brothers operation about a decade ago when the Scotch distiller’s parent company, Pernod Ricard, bought Allied Domecq in partnership with Fortune Brands. courtesy of Herald Scotland

Commenting on the news that Chivas Brothers is to close its Renfrew Road facility by 2019, constituency MSP Derek Mackay said:

“The site at Renfrew Road has been part of Renfrewshire for decades, with the iconic main building a real local landmark. It will be disappointing to see the facility close and my thoughts go out to those who work there.

“While it is welcome news that there is no planned redundancies, many local members of the workforce will be concerned about their future and I hope the management will do all they can to assist in what will be a very stressful time.

“The Scottish Government is committed to working with Chivas and Renfrewshire Council to do what we can to minimise the impact to the local economy.”

Gavin Newlands MP said

“I am deeply disappointed to hear of the plans of Pernod Ricard to move their operations away from Paisley. Chivas Brothers have had a long and proud history in Paisley and it has become part of the fabric of the town.

“It will be of some comfort that there are no planned compulsory redundancies. However, locally there is undoubtedly a number of questions that still need to be answered and I will offer my immediate support to all those affected by this decision.