Diageo welcomes Scotland’s “no” vote
Phew – they would have been relieved. Several big names in the retail and beverage industry have welcomed Scotland’s decision to remain part of the UK on 19 September 2014, after the likes of Diageo and DIY company Kingfisher had warned ahead of the vote that an independent Scotland would lead to higher prices.
55 percent of Scottish voters voted on 18 September 2014 to stay with the UK, with 45 percent voting for independence.
Diageo has Scottish roots and currently controls around 40 percent of Scotch whisky production. It is one of Scotland’s top manufacturing exporters.
On the company’s website it cites that 4,000 of its employees work in Scotland in around 50 sites across the country. It said that in total, the spirit brands it makes in Scotland generate over GBP 3 billion (EUR 3.9 billion) worth of revenue each year.
A spokesperson for Diageo said that "Scotch whisky is a very successful and growing export industry for Scotland. The future for this sector will remain bright, provided there is no further regulation or taxation on the industry. This is important because in the world market, Scotch whisky competes fiercely with other categories, such as American whiskey, Irish whiskey and other whiskies.
"We will continue to work in partnership with both the UK and the Scottish governments to ensure the most favourable business environment possible, both for Diageo and for the future growth and success of Scotch whisky as an industry," said the spokesperson.
