Hiram Walker to Increase Production, Employees

The Hiram Walker plant in Fort Smith will increase production and staff by the first of next year, said plant manager, Brian Hastings. The plant will go from bottling 4.8 million cases per year to 7 million cases of liquor per year.

Hiram Walker’s United Kingdom-based parent company, Allied-Domecq, was purchased last April by Pernod-Ricard USA. After the purchase, Pernod, based in White Plains, N.Y., conducted a study of Hiram Walker plants, Hastings said. During that time, the Fort Smith plant’s future was hanging in the balance.

Then on April 19, the plant learned not only will it be staying in the River Valley city, but it will also have increased production. Hastings said Pernod decided to close an Indiana plant and move its bottling of Seagram’s Gin and Wild Turkey Kentucky bourbon to Fort Smith.

Hastings wouldn’t say how many employees will be added to its payroll of 185, but he did say the plant will add a third shift, which means the plant will operate around the clock.

Hiram Walker will add more equipment to the plant, but there are no plans to expand the building for the increased production.