Diageo has officially listed its Crown Royal bottling facility in Amherstburg, Ontario, for sale as preparations continue for the site’s closure by February 2026. The industrial complex spans roughly 25 hectares and comprises eight buildings with a total floor space of about 41,500 square metres, including direct rail access and extensive secured yard capacity. The listing confirms that the spirits group is proceeding with its exit from the location after more than 50 years of bottling operations.
The shutdown will affect around 160 unionised employees represented by Unifor, making the facility the largest single employer in the town. Local officials have warned of serious consequences for the municipal tax base and the wider economy, while the union has described the closure as a devastating blow to the community. A closure agreement ratified in December provides enhanced severance, extended benefits and transition support, allowing workers either to leave early or remain until final shutdown.
Bottling of Crown Royal will be transferred mainly to Diageo’s Valleyfield site in Quebec, while mashing, distillation and ageing will continue in Canada, including at facilities in Manitoba. The company has said the move is part of a broader effort to optimise its North American supply chain and shift some bottling closer to U.S. consumers, who account for the majority of volumes previously handled in Amherstburg.
The decision has escalated into a political dispute in Ontario, where Premier Doug Ford has reiterated his intention to remove Crown Royal from shelves at the LCBO. The Liquor Control Board of Ontario is the provincially owned alcohol retail monopoly, responsible for importing, wholesaling and selling most spirits and wine in Ontario. As one of the world’s largest alcohol purchasers, its listing decisions carry significant commercial weight, meaning that delisting a major brand can materially affect sales and market visibility.
While Unifor has welcomed the pressure tactic, consumer advocacy groups argue that removing Crown Royal restricts consumer choice without reversing the plant closure.
