German firm to invest €4m in Louth whiskey maturation facility

Private Pier Industries, the Berlin-based company that owns the Grace O'Malley and Proclamation whiskey brands, is to establish a new €4 million blending, bottling and maturation facility in Co Louth.

The company, which is also behind a premium pet-food brand know as Irish Pure that is sold in more than 3,000 stores in Germany, initially plans to occupy a 1,858sq m (20,000 sq ft) premises in its first phase, doubling in size within a year to 3,716sq m (40,000 sq ft) upon completion.

Speaking to The Irish Times, Stefan Hansen, who co-founded Private Pier along with Hendrick Melle, said the company was also considering establishing its own distillery at a future date.

The Grace O’Malley whiskey brand was introduced in 2018 with Proclamation coming onto the market two year later. Both brands have done well despite the difficulties experienced by drinks companies during the Covid crisis.

Suspension of Brazilian beef exports to China presents ‘opportunity’ for Ireland

---

Jameson sells record 8.6m cases of whiskey

---

Bread-maker Aryzta’s rebel shareholder whipped it out of the oven too soon

---

Krispy Kreme to open a new outlet in Swords Pavilions shopping centre

---

“We have distribution for the brands in 20 countries and recently agreed a 10-year contract to secure stocks,” said Mr Hansen.

The new Dundalk facility is part of a wider €24 million investment in the Irish whiskey sector by the company.

Mr Hansen said the new Good Spirits Bottling facility will lead to 15 new jobs bringing total headcount for the company to 23 people.

The announcement comes as Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Leo Varadkar leads a trade mission to Berlin. The Enterprise Ireland-backed mission, which has also visited London and Paris, includes representatives from a number of client companies.

Dublin City University-based start-up Luna Systems, which has come up with technology that ensures e-scooters that can "sense" pedestrians and recognise different road surfaces, is also participating. It is to announce an extension of its partnership with Tier. The e-scooter operator is already collaborating with Luna for DCU's shared scooter scheme. It is now expanding the relationship to work together on the piloting and deployment of computer vision and smart city technology on e-scooter fleets in other regions. Luna is to create 15 full-time jobs as part of the move.