The Diageo facility located in Amherstburg, Ontario, is scheduled for closure in February as part of an initiative to enhance operational efficiency, according to the company. This plant is responsible for bottling Crown Royal whisky in Canada. Diageo stated that although the whisky production processes such as mashing, distillation, and aging will remain in Canada, some bottling activities will be relocated closer to the significant number of Crown Royal consumers in the United States.
The company’s official statement highlighted that Diageo will maintain its strong presence in Canada, which includes its Canadian headquarters and warehouse operations in the Greater Toronto Area, as well as additional bottling and distillation facilities in Gimli, Manitoba, and Valleyfield, Quebec.
The closure announcement has been met with resistance from the union representing the plant workers. John D’Agnolo, the president of Unifor Local 200, expressed shock and devastation over the decision. He emphasized the plant’s importance in Amherstburg as a major employer, with 160 workers directly impacted by the closure. D’Agnolo vowed to fight against the shutdown and mentioned a lack of prior discussions regarding operational improvements at the plant.
The closure is expected to have significant ripple effects on the local community, according to Dan Gemus, the president of the Amherstburg Chamber of Commerce. Gemus noted that the closure of a significant business like Diageo would have a profound impact on the area, affecting many lives and potentially leading to reduced spending by families in the lead-up to the shutdown. He highlighted the challenges already faced by small and medium-sized businesses due to tariffs and rising costs and expressed skepticism about the possibility of reversing the decision.
In response to the closure, D’Agnolo called for support from all levels of government to safeguard manufacturing jobs in Canada.