Demerara Distillers Limited has broken ground on a major US$10 million redevelopment and expansion project in St. Kitts and Nevis, as the Guyanese beverage giant moves to strengthen its regional distribution network and deepen its footprint in the Eastern Caribbean.
The project is being executed through the company’s subsidiary, Demerara Distillers (St. Kitts and Nevis) Limited, at Bird Rock, St. Kitts. The sod-turning ceremony was held on Thursday.
DDL said the investment marks a major milestone in its more than three decades of operations in the Federation, where the company first established a presence in 1996.
The modernised facility is expected to significantly expand DDL’s operational capacity in the region. The new multi-purpose complex will include expanded bottling and packaging operations, as well as state-of-the-art warehousing, positioning the St. Kitts operation as a key hub for serving St. Kitts and Nevis and neighbouring Eastern Caribbean markets.
The redevelopment will also include retail and commercial spaces, along with an interactive Heritage Centre modelled after DDL’s Heritage Centre at its corporate headquarters in Diamond, Guyana.
According to the company, the St. Kitts Heritage Centre will showcase the history and cultural legacy of rum in the Federation, offering curated tours and immersive experiences for both local visitors and international tourists.
Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Terrance Drew, welcomed the investment, describing it as a strong signal of confidence in the Federation’s economy and its ability to attract serious investors.
“Your decision to invest here sends an important message that our federation remains a jurisdiction in which serious investors can establish roots, expand their operations, and build enduring partnerships with our people,” Prime Minister Drew said.
“The ultimate measure of development must always be its impact. Its impact on people,” he added.
DDL Executive Chairman Komal Samaroo said the expansion reflects the company’s long-term commitment to St. Kitts and Nevis and to regional economic integration.
“Demerara Distillers has been an integral part of the business landscape in St. Kitts and Nevis for 31 years,” Samaroo said.
“This US$14 million expansion is not merely an investment in infrastructure; it is an investment in our people, our heritage, and the future of regional trade,” he added.
Samaroo said the expanded bottling, packaging and distribution capabilities will allow DDL to better serve regional markets while celebrating the shared heritage of Caribbean rum.
“By expanding our bottling, packaging, and distribution capabilities, we are better positioned to supply regional markets while celebrating the shared historical craftsmanship of Caribbean rum through our new Heritage Centre,” he said.
While in St. Kitts, DDL’s executive team, led by Samaroo, also met with the project’s supervising consultancy firm to finalise key timelines and milestones for completion.
The project will include modern laboratory and quality-control infrastructure, administrative offices and energy-efficient building technologies, including renewable energy solutions where practical.
DDL said construction is expected to create local employment, support skills development and generate commercial opportunities for contractors and suppliers in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Headquartered at Diamond, Demerara, DDL is one of Guyana’s leading producers and exporters of spirits, beverages and food products. The company is best known internationally for its award-winning El Dorado Rum portfolio and operates across Guyana, the wider Caribbean, North America and Europe.
