DOUGLAS Laing & Co, the Scotch whisky blender and bottler, has reported a 40 per cent increase in operating profits to £2.4 million, while announcing the appointment of Chris Leggat as its new chief executive.
The Glasgow-based firm, which is planning to build a £10m distillery on the south bank of the River Clyde, said the rise in profits came as sales of its whiskies increased to 70,000 cases. It exports its brands, which include Big Peat, Timorous Beastie and King of Scots, to nearly 60 countries.
Douglas Laing announced the results as it said Mr Leggat, its former commercial director, had succeeded owner Fred Laing as chief executive. Mr Laing is now chairman of the 70-year-old firm.
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The company is also looking to boost its team by recruiting six new sales and marketing staff. Its latest accounts show that it employed an average of 21 staff in year ended December 31, 2016.
Mr Leggat said: “This is an exciting new role for me and the business at a particularly positive time as we mark our platinum anniversary. We are gearing up for the next chapter where we will continue to invest heavily in our whisky stocks, our team and the global customer base.”
Cara Laing, director of whisky at Douglas Laing, said the firm is close to submitting its final planning application for its proposed distillery, which will be located on the old Glasgow Garden Festival site. Ms Laing said the firm hopes to be up and running at the site, which will also be home to a new head office, visitor centre, bottling plant and warehousing, next year.
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While the distillery will allow it to make its own whisky, she said the focus continues to be on Douglas Laing’s core blending and bottling operations.
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