Fermanagh gin manufacturer, The Boatyard Distillery is using ethanol normally used in drinks production to make hand sanitiser during the COVID-19 crisis.
Boatyard said it has given away more than 1200 litres of sanitiser to front line services in Fermanagh, including NHS workers and supermarket staff.
The company is now selling the product to other industries, both locally and internationally, and the sanitiser will be stocked in Tesco stores across Northern Ireland from this week on.
Situated at Tully Bay Marina on the shores of Lough Erne, The Boatyard Distillery was set up in 2016 and currently produces Boatyard Double Gin, Old Tom Gin and vodka. The company has secured deals with supermarket chains M&S and Waitrose to stock their beverages across Great Britain and Ireland.
It has also just closed a £634,000 investment round through the Halo Business Angel Network (HBAN).
Joe McGirr, Boatyard founder said: “Right now, Covid-19 has interrupted some of our immediate plans but we have responded to the situation by being innovative and using our expertise to produce a product that is not only in high demand but which our health service and key workers desperately need.”
Brian Cummings, investment director at Clarendon Fund Managers which manages HBAN in Northern Ireland added: “The Boatyard Distillery has experienced tremendous growth over the last few years. Joe has continued to diversify the product offering and that has led to international success with a number of new global distribution deals agreed.
“Their ability to quickly pivot into the production of hand sanitiser demonstrates what an innovative business this is.”
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