As part of our Membership Spotlight feature we recently spoke Harry Dunne to about doing business in Drogheda.
Q. Tell us about your business and what you do?
Response: Kinahans Irish Whiskey Limited began trading in September 2015, the company is part of the Origen X Group and has now established a Bonded Warehouse for a blending and bottling facility at Marleys Lane, Drogheda County Louth, A92TY07.
The purpose of establishing the bonded warehouse and bottling operation is principally to offer the company flexibility and independence in storage and bottling operations. This will allow the company the ability to blend & bottle quickly and with maximum flexibility.
To meet the growing demands within the industry the current plans are to develop the site into a state-of-the-art blending and bottling facility for the purpose of Blending and bottling Kinahan’s own
branded products and to offer these services to 3rd party customers,in addition there will be storage of finished product for both own branded products and upon approval from Revenue, 3rd party customers.
There is future plans to add maturation of whiskey to the business.
Q. What do you think has been your biggest achievement with thebusiness?
Response: Establishing a purpose build bottling company with state-of-the-art equipment. The project will now provide employment to the local Drogheda Area.
Q. Tell us one thing people might not know about the business?
Response: While the priority is for our own business needs to offer flexibility & independence,
the operation is also intended to reduce overall cost. Due to the current high demand for bottling services in the market, the cost per bottle is a significant proportion of total production costs. Our estimates show that we can bottle independently for a fraction of the cost of using 3rd party bottling
companies.
Kinahans Irish Whiskey Limited will have the tenancy for the building and will offer any available bottling capacity to 3rdparty customers.
As an experienced operator of many years, we are aware that there is acute shortage of bottling capacity in the country.
Q. What is the best piece of business advice you’ve ever beengiven?
Response: My mentor installed in me “The only way to do great work is to love what you do”
That’s what I do - I love what we do.