Irish drinks manufacturer West Cork Distillers has acquired domestic bottling company Donohoe Drinks.
West Cork Distillers said the deal, which closed on 4 July, “marks a significant milestone in our company’s growth and expansion plans”.
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It would not be drawn on specifics of the deal, including financial details or assets acquired.
The two companies will now “integrate our operations”, West Cork Distillers said.
In a statement sent to Just Drinks, West Cork Distillers said: “West Cork Distillers and Donohoe Drinks have both established strong reputations in the spirits industry, and our combined expertise and resources will enable us to deliver even greater value to our customers and partners.
“This acquisition aligns with our vision to expand our service and product offerings and strengthen our market presence, ensuring we continue to lead in quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction.”
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By GlobalDataLocal reports suggest Waterford-based Donohoe Drinks struggled to retain profitability after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caused glass prices to rocket. In March, it reportedly sought court protection from creditors.
According to the Irish Independent, citing “multiple sources involved”, West Cork Distillers has acquired Donohoe Drinks’ parent company, Admiralford Ltd, a move that will see creditors paid in full.
It reported the lifting of court protection was dependent on all creditors being paid what they were owed. The newspaper said 150 people were employed at the contract bottling and blending company, with all jobs saved.
Founded in 2003, West Cork Distillers has a distillation capacity of 16.5m LPA and employs 140 people. Its flagship brand, West Cork Irish whiskey, is sold in around 70 countries.
Its other brands include Garnish Island Gin, and Two Trees vodka and gin. It claims to be “the largest, wholly Irish-owned distillery in the country”. On its website, it adds: “More jobs, new products and additional warehouses are being added to meet rising demand”.
Donohoe Drinks was founded by James Donohoe in 1876, originally as a mineral water factory producing Star water. It then expanded operations, producing Guinness in the late 1800s. In 2006, it also took on a kegging agreement with Heineken.
In 1993, it expanded into the ‘spirit, wine and cream liqueur’ blending and bottling business through the acquisition of the assets of Waterford Liqueurs from Irish Distillers Ltd.
It built a plant in Waterford to provide contract manufacturing and bottling services to Irish and export markets, which, according to the company’s website, now manufactures, blends and bottles spirits and cream liqueurs.
In 2010, it formed sister company Future Nutrition, a “functional beverage private label development and manufacturing partner”, produced in Enniscorthy, County Wexford.
