‘Profits before people’ – Christmas Guinness drought looms

Fresh strike action at Diageo’s Belfast site is set to place Guinness Zero supplies under festive strain. The dispute reignites scrutiny of recent shortages and arrives after major investment in Guinness 0.0 production across Ireland.

The UK is facing what unions warn will be a Christmas Guinness Zero drought as workers at Diageo’s Belfast site prepare for eight days of December walkouts. Around 90 workers unanimously voted to reject the company’s latest pay offer and will strike from Friday 5 December until the early hours of Saturday 13 December.

Workers are seeking a substantial pay increase to close the gap with staff at Diageo’s Runcorn site in England. Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said, “Diageo is one of the largest and most profitable drinks companies in the world. It can fully afford to make workers a decent offer but has chosen to put profits before people.”

Diageo responds

A Diageo spokesperson told db there will be no disruption to the supply of Guinness or Guinness 0.0 over the Christmas period. The company said it has contingency plans in place to manage any potential impact at its can packaging site in Belfast.

Diageo added that while it is disappointed by the ballot outcome, it “strongly believes that continued engagement is the best way of securing a resolution that recognises employees for their valued contribution while ensuring the long-term competitiveness of the site.”

The company also said that Unite’s press release is inaccurate, stating that its Belfast site is for beer packaging rather than production. It confirmed it is currently supplying more Guinness 0.0 to the GB market than ever and “looks forward to serving consumers over the festive period.”

Belfast’s central role in the Guinness Zero supply chain

The Belfast site is the world’s largest producer of Guinness Zero, the UK’s best selling alcohol free beer. Diageo has reported global net profits of more than US$2.5 billion this year, with Guinness Zero a major contributor.

Regional officer Michael Keenan said the strike “will severely disrupt production lines in the run up to Christmas” and urged Diageo to return to negotiations with an offer that meets workers’ expectations.

Dublin’s expanding capacity for Guinness 0.0

The disruption comes a year after Diageo set out plans to almost double Guinness 0.0 production at St James’s Gate in Dublin to 176 million pints per year, as reported by the drinks business in October 2024. The company confirmed a further €30 million investment, bringing its total spend on Guinness 0.0 to €60 million in the three years since launch.

Sales of the alcohol free stout grew by almost 50% between February 2023 and February 2024, according to Food Manufacture. Aidan Crowe, beer operations director at Diageo, said the investment “would allow us to double our capacity for Guinness 0.0 and meet the ever-growing demand from consumers as they move towards moderation and look for more choice.”

He added that St James’s Gate “is the global hub of Guinness 0.0 production for markets around the world” and said the funding “continues the legacy of true innovation here in Dublin.”

This investment followed extended UK on-trade trials in September 2024 that made Guinness 0.0 available on draught in more pubs and at football grounds across Great Britain. The rollout followed successful trials in Ireland and previous test pours at The George in 2023. Guinness 0.0 is now sold at The Devonshire in London’s Soho for £6.35 a pint.

The company said more pubs were “embracing the growing trend towards moderation” and described the draught rollout as “a momentous moment for on-trade expansion in the UK.” It added that small-scale trials would continue in the months before Christmas with the aim of widening availability.

Echoes of last year’s scarcity

The looming walkouts recall the Christmas 2024 Guinness shortage. With Guinness unusually scarce after Diageo restricted stock to pubs due to what it described as “unprecedented demand,” some venues resorted to ration cards. The Old Ivy House in Clerkenwell allowed punters to order a pint only if they had first bought two other drinks.

Consumers quickly turned to alternatives. Murphy’s Irish Stout saw sales surge, with bar and pub sales climbing 632% over Christmas 2024. Heineken UK later reported that total draught sales rose 176% compared to the same period in 2023.

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