Trossachs Cooperage reignites coopering craft in Callander with £1.3m funding enhance for Scotland’s whisky trade
The brand new cooperage brings 12 expert jobs, apprenticeships, and renewed confidence for the sector
Could 2025 – A brand new coopering facility backed by £1.3million funding is to be launched in a serious vote of confidence in Scotland’s Scotch whisky trade.
Gary Drummond, a second-generation cooper with greater than 18 years of expertise, has based Trossachs Cooperage — a brand new coopering facility based mostly in Callander, Stirlingshire.
Creating 12 expert native jobs within the first 12 months, 4 long-service coopers who convey greater than 120 years of mixed expertise to the enterprise are a number of the first to affix the crew. Trossachs Cooperage can also be investing in the way forward for the craft, with 4 apprentices to be recruited.
Working in the direction of changing into a licensed coaching hub and a member of the Nationwide Cooperage Federation, the cooperage will ship the apprenticeship coaching, providing a personalized SVQ Award. Gary’s father — himself an skilled cooper — will even be mentoring the apprentices as they be taught the coopering craft.
The cooperage might be based mostly at newly secured premises on the Cambusmore Property, Ballachallan, that are at the moment present process a complete fit-out forward of operations starting in Could 2025. It can characteristic custom-built, state-of-the-art equipment, together with a high-spec rejuvenation system with the most recent security options.
The enterprise is backed by a Scottish funding group comprising profitable enterprise entrepreneurs with a confirmed monitor file, together with administrators Alan Wright and Tim Allan. Alan brings intensive senior administration expertise from a number of the whisky trade’s main names, whereas Tim provides broad business perception by his roles as former President of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce and Chair of V&A Dundee.
Gary Drummond, who honed his craft at Diageo’s Carsebridge and Cambus cooperages, stated: “The Scotch whisky trade is a pillar of Scotland’s foods and drinks economic system, however coopering — a centuries-old craft — has confronted critical challenges. Abilities shortages and restricted restore capability have led to a whole lot of hundreds of casks being scrapped, which if repaired and rejuvenated might have gone again into circulation. Subsequently, distillers are pressured to solely depend on expensive first fill casks.
“Trossachs Cooperage goals to reverse that pattern by repairing, rejuvenating, and hardening oak casks to make them match for fill — lowering waste, reducing prices, and decreasing environmental impression. Our ethos is constructed on abilities, sustainability, and Scottish craftsmanship, and we’re extremely proud to drive this ahead from Callander.
“The help from our funding group, together with the strategic steering from companions like Johnston Carmichael, has been instrumental in bringing our imaginative and prescient to life — particularly at a time when funding and renewed confidence within the Scotch whisky sector are so vitally wanted.”
Chaired by David Ovens, Joint Managing Director at Archangel Traders, the venture has benefited from the early and ongoing help of main enterprise advisory agency Johnston Carmichael, authorized specialists Thorntons, and property skilled Jonathan Sutton. Johnston Carmichael performed a pivotal function in figuring out and connecting the appropriate companions, utilizing their intensive community and deep trade perception to convey collectively a crew with the experience wanted to drive the venture ahead.
Adam Hardie, Enterprise Improvement Accomplice and Head of Meals & Drink at Johnston Carmichael, stated: “Trossachs Cooperage is strictly the form of entrepreneurial enterprise Scotland’s foods and drinks sector wants. With its ethos rooted in custom, but firmly centered on the longer term, it has been a pleasure to help Gary.
“The dedication to inspiring and shaping the following technology of coopers is exceptional, and I’ve each confidence that this enterprise will rapidly turn into a useful asset to Scotland’s iconic whisky trade.”
Constructed with sustainability at its core, the ability is dedicated to reaching zero waste. All waste supplies — from offcuts to sawdust — might be recycled, repurposed, or transformed into firewood, which might be used of their conventional rejuvenation course of. The cooperage will even be powered by 100% renewable vitality, drawn from each photo voltaic and wind sources, making certain minimal environmental impression throughout its operations.
Trossachs Cooperage has already attracted curiosity from a number of distillers and secured its first buyer, The Borders Distillery, who will help the normal rejuvenation course of. The corporate additionally has daring plans for enlargement within the coming months.
John Fordyce, Managing Director at The Borders Distillery, stated: “Gary and the crew have dedicated to reviving conventional rejuvenation strategies for casks and we’re delighted to be sending up our first batch prepared for the opening. The initiative taken by Trossachs and the buyers is ahead considering and daring. It opens up alternative for Borders and we’re trying ahead to our collaboration.”
Over time, Gary additionally has ambitions to increase the ability to incorporate a customer centre and café — creating an area to rejoice Scotland’s coopering heritage whereas supporting native tourism and group engagement.
Johnston Carmichael is proud to be a number one impartial UK accountancy and enterprise advisory agency. With virtually 1,000 sharp minds throughout its workplaces nationwide, the enterprise delivers specialist sector perception and experience. Collectively, its individuals create enduring impression and have been investing within the subsequent technology of companies and advisers for greater than 85 years. Dedicated to Company Social Duty, the agency is gold sponsor of the Kiltwalk and a member of the Conscious Enterprise Constitution. As a member of Moore International, additionally it is related to a group of greater than 30,000 individuals in 110 nations worldwide.
For extra info on Johnston Carmichael, please go to: https://johnstoncarmichael.com/
