The ongoing demand for hand sanitiser is helping a Macedon Ranges distillery stay open and keep its staff employed.
Animus Distillery managing director Rob Turner said a “critical shortage” of hand sanitiser had prompted the Kyneton distillery to begin producing 100ml bottles.
He said the switch from gin to hand sanitiser had helped Animus “keep the business moving” and “keep employing people”.
“We’ve spent years building our wonderful team and to be able to keep offering them some kind of ongoing employment instead of shutting the business down [is significant],” he said.
“It is helping us help people. It is vital to stay connected at a time like this.”
Mr Turner said the sale of hand sanitiser was also helping Animus Distillery give back to the community.
He said 50 per cent of profits from hand sanitiser sales were being used to provide hand santiser to community members in need, as it was important to give back to the community that we are a part of.
Mr Turner said the company planned to start selling 250ml and 500ml bottles soon.
The distillery is also hoping to help local wineries by selling their wines at its cellar door.
Forty wineries from across the Macedon Ranges and central Victoria have partnered with Animus Distillery after being forced to close their own cellar doors.
“We have seen so many of our friends in the wine industry that have had to shut their cellar doors which is their main source of revenue; it is quite distressing, Mr Turner said.
“We wanted to find an avenue for wineries to keep going.”
Details: animusdistillery.com
