The Scottish Sun reported on September 4 that Rosebank is implementing job cuts just 15 months after its splashy opening. The distillery decided to announce the layoffs after receiving unexpectedly low visitor numbers. Their contracts would finish in October, according to the outlet, and 20 employees’ jobs are on the chopping block.
As far as the positions eliminated, the outlet reported that most were retail shop employees, tour guides, or duty managers. The outlet reported that the newly hired workers feel “betrayed” at the news.
Brand Homes Director for Rosebank Distillery Stuart Hendry shared that the lack of traffic was “insufficient” to keep the company’s current operations going.
“To safeguard future business, we have taken the difficult decision to propose a realignment of our opening hours to better suit demand,” said Hendry in a statement. “Rosebank will remain open to visitors all year-round, but we are proposing our public opening hours will be shorter and more flexible. As part of these proposed changes, the roles of colleagues are also being reviewed, and it is with a heavy heart we delivered this difficult update to members of the Rosebank brand home team.”
A Focus On Long-Term Strategy Leaves ‘Betrayed’ Workers
Though the decision has left “betrayed” workers reeling, Hendry expressed that none of these decisions had anything to do with performance. The company aims to treat the terminated employees with “compassion, dignity and respect.” Hendry went on to share that the cuts would allow Rosebank to focus on long-term growth.
Ian Macleod, who runs Tamdhu and Glengoyne, owns Rosebank. According to The Spirits Business, Ian Macleod intends to open Laggen Bay, another distillery in Islay that’s in the midst of construction.
It appears these cuts will not affect the production process, and Rosebank hired ex-Bladnoch Head of Distilling Neil Bulloch as Distillery Manager.
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