Maclean's Highland Bakery helps Avva Scottish Gin Distiller produce vital hand sanitiser for frontline

A LOCAL business is helping to meet the unprecedented demand for hand sanitiser.

Maclean's Highland Bakery have supplied Avva Scottish Gin Distiller in Elgin with a vital ingredient, allowing them to make 2000 bottles for frontline services in the area including the NHS, emergency services, schools, care homes, food producers and care staff.

Managing director Lewis Maclean said: "Avva asked us for glycerine, one of the ingredients used in the production of cakes, which we donated free of charge.

"We are keen to help protect the community."

Chemicals firm Ineos is to open a new plant on Teesside capable of producing one million bottles of hand sanitiser per month. It has appealed for firms to produce goods such as ventilators that are vital for the NHS as it battles the coronavirus crisis.

Ineos, which already produces rubber gloves, PVC saline drips, syringes, ventilators and medical tubing, said the cleaning product would be given to the health service free of charge.

Avva spokeswoman Jill Brown confirmed the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) is implementing measures to assist with supply.

She said: "In some areas there is a shortage of personal protective equipment in the fight against Covid19. There is a significant shortage in Moray with all services overwhelmed with the demand. Our production is to assist in our locality.

"Our first batch is ready and there are no plans to retail it directly but we will distribute it next week. Our trading standards are running a data sheet on the recipe which is being used throughout the world."

She added: "We would like to recognise that this was very much a team effort with companies assisting to get our production up-and-running, including Maclean's of Forres.

"This has been an amazing effort in times when we need to collectively support each other."