Diageo Signs Agreement to Sell Amherstburg Bottling Plant

Diageo signed a purchase sale agreement to sell its former Crown Royal bottling plant in Amherstburg, Ontario. The company has kept the identity of the purchaser confidential, stating that further information will be released when appropriate. Both parties will now enter a one-month due diligence period to review legal and financial conditions.

The facility was listed for sale in December 2025 following a closure announcement in August 2025, part of a cost-saving program called Accelerate. The plant officially closed on February 25, 2026, resulting in the loss of between 165 and 200 jobs. This closure triggered a political conflict with Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who threatened to remove Crown Royal from Liquor Control Board of Ontario stores. The dispute ended in February when Diageo committed nearly CA$23 million in provincial spending to keep the whisky on shelves.

Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue expressed hope that the new owner will restore employment for displaced workers, noting that the town council will only intervene if the buyer requires a zoning amendment. Despite the sale of the Amherstburg site, Diageo confirmed that Crown Royal products will continue to be mashed, distilled, and aged at its Canadian facilities in Manitoba and Quebec.