Diageo to expand Kildare Brewery as global demand for Guinness, Guinness 0.0 surges
The Littleconnell facility will more than double production, boosting Guinness exports and easing pressure on Dublin’s St James’s Gate.
IRELAND – Diageo has announced plans for a major expansion of its new €200 million brewery in Littleconnell, Co Kildare, in response to rising global demand for Guinness and Guinness 0.0.
The development will more than double capacity, reinforcing Ireland’s central role in international beer exports.
Construction of the Kildare facility began in June 2024, and once complete, it will raise production capacity to 4.5 million hectolitres. While Dublin’s St James’s Gate brewery will remain the iconic home of Guinness, the new site will serve as a critical hub for growth in emerging markets.
It will also produce a range of beers including Rockshore, Harp, Hop House 13, Smithwick’s, Kilkenny, and Carlsberg.
The expansion comes after St James’s Gate faced mounting strain last winter due to soaring demand across Britain and Ireland. Reports of shortages and rationing in UK pubs highlighted the scale of pressure on supply.
A major driver of growth has been the rapid success of Guinness 0.0, the alcohol-free variant brewed exclusively at St James’s Gate. Sales of Guinness 0.0 draught rose by 161% between June 2022 and March 2025, significantly boosting demand.
Despite the new development, Diageo reaffirmed its commitment to St James’s Gate, stating the Dublin site “will remain the heart and soul of Guinness” and continue to supply established markets such as Ireland, the UK, and the United States.
Colin O’Brien, Diageo’s global head of beer supply, said: “This planned expansion at Littleconnell is designed to position us for future global growth opportunities for Guinness and Guinness 0.0. By increasing our capacity, we can better serve emerging markets while strengthening Ireland’s position as a leading market for beer exports.”
The company has divested several breweries in Africa in recent years but retained the Guinness brand, which is now often brewed under licence. Meanwhile, a new showhouse microbrewery is expected to open in Covent Garden, London, at the end of 2025.
Guinness continues to perform strongly, recording double-digit global growth and gaining market share across its three largest regions in the past year.
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