A brewery giant is set to close its Irvine site next year with around 60 jobs to be lost.

Tennents Caledonian announced the plans to staff yesterday - blaming effects of the global coronavirus pandemic and saying operations would be moved to Cambuslang.

Brewery bosses have since confirmed around 60 redundancies are expected at the Irvine site and Dumfries after a company announcement was seen by the Times.

Tennents Caledonian Managing Director Kenny Gray said: “The current global pandemic continues to have an adverse impact on our business, and across Scotland’s hospitality sector in particular. Consequently, we need to further ensure our distribution network is cost-efficient to achieve a sustainable business model that provides value and service for our customers.  

“We are therefore proposing to implement a streamlined and consolidated distribution operation in the West of Scotland. This will result in the closure of our Irvine depot with activity being absorbed into the Cambuslang depot. 

“In addition, it’s our intention to change the operation at Dumfries from a stocked-depot to a drop-off facility.  

“As a consequence of these proposals, 60 roles at our Irvine and Dumfries depots are at risk of redundancy. 

“This decision has not been taken lightly, however, the current trading environment means we need to ensure we have a sustainable business model, with the optimal geographical footprint, to efficiently serve our customers across Scotland.

“It is expected the Irvine depot will close by the end of January 2021, with the change to a stockless depot in Dumfries also taking place during January 2021.

“We are engaging in a full consultation process with the employees impacted, and their elected representatives, to seek to minimise the impact of this proposal and to explore alternative opportunities”.