Diageo has proposed an expansion to the brewery it is building in Ireland that would more than double its planned output.
If approved, capacity would rise to 4.5m hectolitres a year at the facility in Littleconnell, County Kildare, up from the originally proposed 2m hectolitres. The facility will also now produce Guinness and Guinness 0.0 for “emerging markets”, while Diageo’s flagship St James’s Gate brewery in Dublin will continue to supply the brand’s “largest markets”, including Ireland, the UK and the US.
The Littleconnell site, the construction of which commenced in June last year, was initially intended to produce solely lager and ale brands such as Rockshore, Hop House and Smithwick’s. The first brews are expected early next year.
“By increasing our capacity, we can better serve emerging markets while strengthening Ireland’s position as a leading market for beer exports,” said Diageo’s global head of beer supply, Colin O’Brien.
Last week, the group kicked off Guinness’ second year as the “official beer and non-alcoholic beer” of the English Premier League with a global marketing activation.
