Diageo opens US$20m Plainfield bottling line

The extension to Diageo’s Plainfield, Illinois, brand technical center and bottling plant is now operational. It was officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 24, at which the company criticized the State about its tax hikes on spirits.

The 44,000 sq ft facility houses a new bottling line for the company’s line of Ready-to-Serve cocktails, including Smirnoff Pomegranate Martini, Smirnoff Mojito, Smirnoff Grand Cosmopolitan, and Smirnoff Tuscan Lemonade.  

In April, Diageo announced that it was investing US$20.2 million to expand the Plainfield site in order to help meet the rising market demand for Ready-to-Serve cocktails as consumers entertain more at home.  This expansion followed investments in 2006 and 2007 that exceeded US$25 million.

“For more than 40 years, we have had an excellent relationship with the Plainfield community,” said David Cutter president, Diageo Americas Supply. “During that time, Plainfield has grown and developed tremendously and we’re pleased to expand our operations and continue to be a key part of this community.  This expansion reinforces our commitment to manufacturing in North America and confidence in the continued growth of premium spirits”

However, earlier this year, the Illinois legislature voted to raise excise taxes on spirits by 90 per cent, giving Illinois some of the highest alcohol taxes in the country.

“Diageo made the decision to invest in Plainfield well before the Illinois legislature struck consumers with this unfair tax hike that will hurt the state’s tourism industry and cost jobs,” said Guy Smith, executive VP, Diageo North America.  “We will continue to be a positive contributor to the Illinois community, but these burdensome tax increases make that more difficult, especially in these tough economic times.”

Established in the 1960s as a small distillery for United Distillers, the Plainfield site has grown to more than 450,000 square feet and is today one of the largest combined spirits and malt beverage plants in the world.  About 26 million cases of spirits and malt beverages are produced in Plainfield every year, including the plant’s flagship brand and the #1 distilled spirit in the world, Smirnoff.

About Diageo
Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines and beer categories.  These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.

Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE).  

For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com.  For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.

1 August 2009 - Felicity Murray