Coronavirus sees Halewood International close Merseyside HQ

Halewood International has confirmed their headquarters in Merseyside will close due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

In an announcement made on Tuesday, 25th August, the 30-acre Huyton site will offer a chance to apply for staff voluntary redundancies.

The distillery did not confirm how many employees will be affected, though some roles will be transferred to the Chorley site, just over 30 miles away.

They said: It added: "Despite the impact that Covid-19 has had on the business and the industry as a whole, we are still seeing strong UK and international growth for our core premium artisanal spirits brands, including Whitley Neill Gin, the UK’s number one premium gin brand, the fast growing Dead Man’s Fingers range of rums, JJ Whitley vodka and Crabbie whisky, and we will continue to focus on building these brands.

"Recently our portfolio of spirits won 44 medals from gold to bronze at the renowned International Wines & Spirits Competition.”

An alternative warehouse location is also being considered for other core such as Liverpool Gin and Lambrini and ginger beer brands "all within a 15-mile radius" of Huyton.

A global business spanning over 40 years, Halewood has 1,000 employees but was forced to close its Miami office due to Covid-19 and reduce its UK and Australian staff by 15% in March.

Exporting to 90 countries across the world, senior management also took “significant pay cuts” in order to save the UK’s largest independent premium artisanal spirits distillery.