Moray carers to receive 7,700 bottles of Diageo hand sanitiser
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DIAGEO employees will begin distribution of more than 55,000 bottles of free hand sanitiser this week.
The batches will go to communities across Scotland where the company has distilleries and operations.
Working in partnership with councils and community groups, Diageo staff will distribute its 500ml bottles of hand sanitiser to care homes, care in the community workers and those volunteering to help the vulnerable.
The hand sanitiser is being made to World Health Organisation formula.
Some 7,700 bottles are destined for Moray, where the company has 16 malt whisky distilleries, two maltings plants and its distilling headquarters in Elgin.
Diageo will work with Moray Council to distribute the bottles to ensure it goes to priority areas in the local community, as well as distributing bottles directly.
Keith Miller, Diageo distillation and maturation director, based in Elgin, said: "We are delighted to have these bottles of hand sanitiser to donate to the local community in Speyside.
"We have such admiration for the people in our community working at the frontline of the fight against this virus, and we are just pleased to be able to make what contribution we can to help them."
Ewan Andrew, president of global supply and procurement, said: "I am extremely proud of every employee and our suppliers who have contributed to this project, from the scientific and regulatory teams who developed the process through all the colleagues working to make and distribute it to the community."
Rural areas where Diageo has distilleries, in the Highlands, Islay and Speyside, stand to benefit. The company’s packaging and production plants in Clackmannanshire, Fife and Renfrewshire will also receive batches.
A number of Diageo’s regular suppliers donated ingredients and services. These include firms who have provided logistics and distribution support, pallets, labels, hydrogen peroxide and bottles.
Moray Conservative MP Douglas Ross said: "Moray is home to the largest number of distilleries anywhere in Scotland and Diageo has a strong presence here with 16 distilleries, so I’m pleased that they are working with Moray Council to ensure that the sanitiser will be distributed to where it is most needed.
"This excellent initiative will mean that care homes, care workers in the community and people volunteering to help vulnerable people in Moray should now have a good supply of hand sanitiser, with 7,700 bottles available in our area.
"This is great news and will help carers and volunteers protect themselves and the elderly and vulnerable people that they care for, and I’m grateful to Diageo for this community initiative in Moray and across Scotland."
Plans are now being made to despatch the Speyside consignment to the council depot in Elgin.
