India: Diageo launches state-of-the-art Craft and Innovation Hub in Ponda, Goa

Diageo India, the country’s leading beverage alcohol company, on August 16 announced an investment of ₹45 crore for its state-of-the-art Craft and Innovation Hub in Ponda, Goa. This is in line with the company’s strategy to accelerate transformational innovation and strengthen its craft and premium portfolio, the Business Line reported citing a statement from the company.

The Craft and Innovation Hub, spread across 4 acres, offers robust, end-to-end capabilities addressing various requirements, such as distillation capabilities for malt, gin and rum; maturation infrastructure and blending capability for spirits; an automated bottling and packaging line for craft spirits and a modern warehouse for incoming and finished products.

In addition, it will host a one-of-a-kind Consumer Experience Centre. When fully operational with a capacity of 20,000 cases a month, the Hub will employ 250 people locally.

Diageo India also announced the launch of an employability-linked skills training programme in association with the Skill Development Mission of Government of Goa. This programme will train 1,000 local youth over 3 years for employment/self-employment roles in the hospitality, tourism and allied industries.

Hina Nagarajan, MD & CEO, Diageo India said, “Our Hub will serve as an incubator for select start-ups, providing them with sophisticated infrastructure to build their offerings. We are excited about the innovative possibilities this facility could bring not just for us, but the entire ecosystem as well.”

17 August, 2022