Swinney tours sustainable production facility
HIGHLAND Spring Group welcomed First Minster John Swinney to its Blackford site to give the First Minister a tour of the sustainable production facility.
Swinney met with members of the leadership, water resource and manufacturing teams and was also given a tour of the Highland Spring water source and catchment area in the Ochil Hills.
Swinney said: “Scotland’s breathtaking landscapes, rich biodiversity and abundant natural resources are much more than a source of pride – they are the foundation of our future prosperity with investment in rebuilding natural capital being key to economic growth.
“These natural assets, such as our world-famous water, support at least £40billion in economic output and around 260,000 jobs.
“Highland Spring is an excellent example of a home-grown Scottish business investing in natural resources and producing exceptional products. The quality of Highland Spring products is reflected in the speed of its growth as a brand, which has allowed for subsequent investment in its production facilities here in Perthshire.”
The First Minister was joined by Jim Fairlie, MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, and both were shown over 2,500 acres of the Ochil Hills, an area with nothing but nature across it that allows rainfall to naturally filter over many years through rock to depths of up to 300 feet.
Highland Spring highlighted the firm’s commitment to sustaining the natural beauty of the area along with its healthy ecosystem during the visit, to ensure that the water will remain safe for drinking for generations to come.
Over the last eight years, the Group has invested over £60million in new buildings, plant and equipment at the Blackford headquarters – including on of the fastest production lines in the whole of Europe which can fill at speeds of 73,000 bottles per hour.
And the firm’s dedicated rail freight facility, the first to launch in Scotland in over a decade, has now been fully operational for over two years. A total 40% of the water supplied from the site is transported by rail, helping to remove 8,000 HGV movements from the roads and saving over 3,000 tonnes of CO2 every year.
Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon marked the opening of this innovative rail system when she said that all involved in the opening of the new rail facility should be “immensely proud” in doing their part in supporting the planet.
Simon Oldham, managing director at Highland Spring Group, said: “We were delighted to welcome the First Minister to our site and proud to showcase our business, brand and the untouched, organic land from which we draw our iconic Highland Spring water.
“As a key local employer, we are focused on making a positive socio-economic impact in Perthshire and across Scotland as part of our long-term strategy to invest in and develop innovative, high-quality, sustainable products which provide healthy hydration in an environmentally sustainable way.”
