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In a move aimed at bolstering operational efficiency, Diageo has announced a temporary suspension of distilling and barrel-filling activities at its Lebanon, Kentucky carbon-neutral whiskey facility.
This decision is part of the company's annual practice of implementing standard slowdowns or shutdowns across its operations, which are designed to optimise productivity and streamline processes.
Effective immediately, the Lebanon distillery will pause its production activities until June 2025. This facility, which is recognised for its carbon-neutral operations, plays a crucial role in Diageo’s overall production strategy, complementing the nearby Bulleit Distilling Co in Shelbyville.
The Lebanon site is a 72,000-square-foot facility capable of producing up to 10 million proof gallons annually, using 100% renewable electricity and operating without fossil fuels.
A spokesperson for Diageo told FoodBev: ““Every year we run standard temporary slowdowns or shutdowns across our operations to support our efficiency and productivity goals. Since we are ahead of schedule with the volume we produce at the site, we decided to temporarily pause our distilling operations and barrel-filling activity through June 2025.”
They continued: "During this time, some of our employees will support work at our Shelbyville facility while the remaining group of employees will work on strategic projects, conduct trainings to continue building capabilities and maintenance processes to position our sites for a successful start of our next fiscal year.”
During this downtime, a portion of the workforce will be redirected to assist operations at the Shelbyville facility, while others will engage in strategic projects and training initiatives aimed at enhancing capabilities and maintenance processes.
This adjustment aligns with Diageo's broader sustainability goals as outlined in its Society 2030: Spirit of Progress plan, which aims for net-zero carbon emissions from all direct operations by 2030.
The Lebanon distillery, through its innovative practices, currently saves approximately 117,000 metric tons of carbon emissions annually, equivalent to removing about 25,000 cars from the road, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Diageo’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30, and the timing of this shutdown reflects a proactive approach to maintaining production efficiencies ahead of the next fiscal cycle.