Kathryn Heads DIGI

Irish Distillers’ Communications and Corporate Affairs Director Kathryn D’Arcy is to become the new head of the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI), following a meeting of the group this week. Ms D’Arcy succeeds outgoing Chairperson, Liam Reid of Diageo Ireland, following his two-year term.

DIGI is the representative group for the wider drinks and hospitality industry in Ireland. The group’s membership spans manufacturers, distributors and the retail sectors, including Ibec’s Drinks Ireland, Licenced Vintners Association, Vintners Federation of Ireland, Restaurants Association of Ireland, Irish Hotels Federation and the National Off-Licence Association.

Next week, DIGI will launch its 2022 campaign. It seeks to highlight the importance of the drinks and hospitality industry to Ireland and address the strain the sector is currently experiencing as a result of increased costs while also seeking tangible and actionable policy supports to help it operate sustainably over the coming years.

Pre-pandemic, the drinks industry directly employed 92,000 people. The hospitality sector supported almost 210,000 jobs throughout Ireland, purchasing €1.1bn worth of Irish inputs annually and exporting €1.25 billion worth of produce every year.

The sector, including distillers, brewers, cider producers, pubs, restaurants, hotels and off-licences, supports and develops economic activity across the island of Ireland.