The Scottish Parliament has held a meeting with senior members of the Scotch whisky industry today (17 March), to consider the state of the sector as well as future growth opportunities.

Speaking to just-drinks today, a spokesperson for Diageo confirmed that the company’s managing director of supply in Scotland, Bryan Donaghey, attended the meeting this morning, along with John Beard, the CEO of Whyte & Mackay, as well as a delegation from the Scotch Whisky Association.

The meeting was called and chaired by the Economy Committee of the Scottish Parliament, after a disruptive year for the Scotch whisky industry, which has seen job losses and site closures in the last 12 months.

Donaghey provided an update on Diageo’s restructure programme in Scotland, while a round-table session considered the situation facing Scotch producers not only in Scotland and the UK, but also globally.

Beard’s appearance this morning follows his warning last week to the parliament’s health committee that Whyte & Mackay may “cease to exist” if Scotland’s Government pushes ahead with plans to introduce a minimum price on alcoholic drinks.

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