Whisky firm Chivas supplies NHS Scotland with thousands of hand sanitisers

Whisky giant Chivas Brothers has been named NHS Scotland’s first pro-bono supplier of hand sanitiser.

Chivas Brothers is also supporting the UK effort more widely, having donated 100,000 litres of pure alcohol last month to manufacturing partners to create over 120,000 litres of hand sanitiser for frontline NHS staff battling the pandemic in communities across England, Scotland and Wales.

The Scotch whisky business of global spirits group Pernod Ricard said it was committed to providing more than 50,000 500ml bottles of much-needed hand sanitiser by the end of June.

The firm has begun the transportation of its NHS-approved hand sanitiser, which is produced at the Plymouth Gin distillery and packaged by the team at Chivas Brothers’ site in Dumbarton, to NHS Scotland’s central distribution hub. From there it will go on to support health boards across the country.

It follows the company’s distribution of more than 10,000 litres of hand sanitiser to social care providers and charities across Glasgow, West Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire and Ayrshire.

Gordon Buist, production director at Chivas Brothers, said: “As NHS Scotland’s first pro-bono hand sanitiser supplier we look forward to supporting more frontline healthcare workers across the country who are working tirelessly in the fight against the pandemic.

“We’re fortunate to have been able to repurpose part of our production facilities to the bottling and packaging of hand sanitiser, enabling us to better assist NHS Scotland in the fight against the virus.”

Brian Roach, NHS Scotland category manager, said: “The donation of hand sanitiser from Chivas Brothers is a significant gesture, for which NHS Scotland is hugely grateful. This sanitiser will contribute towards appropriately protecting NHS Scotland clinical and frontline staff as they undertake their essential daily activities.”

Chivas is also supporting the UK effort more widely, having donated 100,000 litres of pure alcohol last month to manufacturing partners to create more than 120,000 litres of hand sanitiser for frontline NHS staff battling the pandemic in communities across England, Scotland and Wales.

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