Diageo facts for kids
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Diageo world headquarters in Great Marlborough Street, London, England
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| Public | |
| Traded as |
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| Industry | Drink industry |
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| Founded | 17 December 1997 |
| Headquarters | London, England |
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Key people
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| Products | Alcoholic beverages: spirits, beer and wine |
| Revenue |  US$20.269 billion (2024) |
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Operating income
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 US$6.001 billion (2024) |
| US$3.870 billion (2024) |
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| Total assets | US$45.474 billion (2024) |
| Total equity | US$12.070 billion (2024) |
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Number of employees
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30,000 (2024) |
| Subsidiaries | United Spirits (55.9%) |
Diageo plc (pronounced dee-AJ-ee-oh) is a large British company. It makes and sells many different kinds of drinks around the world. Its main office is in London, England.
Diageo is a major seller of Scotch whisky and other spirits. It has operations in 132 places globally. The company's distilleries make a big part of all Scotch whisky. They own over 24 whisky brands, like Johnnie Walker and Buchanan's. Other well-known brands include Guinness (a type of beer), Smirnoff, Baileys, Captain Morgan, and Tanqueray.
Diageo's shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. This means people can buy and sell parts of the company.
Contents
How Diageo Started
Joining Forces
Diageo was created in 1997. It was formed when two big companies, Guinness plc and Grand Metropolitan, decided to merge. Leaders from both companies, like Anthony Greener and Philip Yea from Guinness, helped make this happen. Anthony Greener became the first chairman. Shares of the new company, Diageo, began trading on December 17, 1997.
The name "Diageo" was made up by a company called Wolff Olins in 1997. It combines the Latin word diēs (meaning "day") and the Greek word geo- (meaning "earth"). The name is meant to connect with the company's idea of "Celebrating Life, Every Day, Everywhere."
Focusing on Drinks
After the merger, Diageo owned many different businesses. Some of these were not related to drinks. The company decided to sell these other businesses. This helped them focus only on making and selling beverages.
For example, in 2000, they sold the Pillsbury Company, which makes food products. In 2002, they sold the Burger King fast-food chain. They also sold the Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland in 2015. This hotel had hosted big events like the 2014 Ryder Cup golf tournament.
In 2016, Diageo sold a famous painting called The Monarch of the Glen. They owned the painting but it was not directly linked to their business. The painting is now owned by the National Galleries of Scotland.
In 2015, Diageo also sold many of its beer and wine brands. This included the Red Stripe beer brand and most of its wine business. By 2019, Diageo had completely left the wine business. There were rumors in 2023 that they might sell Guinness, but the company said this was not true.
Growing Around the World
Diageo has grown by buying drink companies in many countries. In 2011, they bought part of a Chinese company that makes a traditional Chinese spirit called baijiu. They fully owned it by 2013.
Also in 2011, they bought a Turkish liquor company. In 2012, they bought a Brazilian company that makes cachaça. They also bought a large part of the Indian company United Spirits.
Diageo has also invested a lot in its own production. In 2012, they announced a big investment to make more Scotch whisky. This included building new distilleries and making existing ones bigger. In 2015, they invested in a Danish whisky brand called Stauning.
In 2017, Diageo planned to open a Guinness brewery and visitor center in Maryland, USA. This place could welcome many visitors each year. In 2021, they opened a large visitor center in Edinburgh, Scotland, focused on the Johnnie Walker brand. Also in 2021, Diageo announced plans to invest in expanding their tequila production in Mexico. In 2022, they planned to build a new brewery in Ireland.
Changes in Leadership
In March 2023, Debra Crew was chosen to be the new chief executive of Diageo. She took on the role earlier than planned in June 2023. In July 2025, Debra Crew resigned from her role. Nik Jhangiani, who was the chief financial officer, became the interim chief executive.
Buying and Selling Drink Brands
Diageo has often bought and sold different drink brands over the years.
- In 1998, they sold the John Dewar & Sons company, which included several whisky distilleries and Bombay Sapphire gin.
- In 2001, Diageo bought the spirits and wine businesses of Seagram, including Captain Morgan.
- In 2002, they sold Malibu rum.
- Diageo gained full ownership of the Don Julio tequila brand in 2013.
- In 2007, Diageo started a partnership with rapper Sean Combs to promote the Cîroc vodka brand. They also jointly bought the DeLeón Tequila brand in 2013. This partnership ended in 2024, and Diageo became the sole owner of both brands.
- In 2010, Diageo opened the Roseisle distillery.
- In 2016, the company sold Grand Marnier, a liqueur, to an Italian company.
- In 2017, Diageo bought the Casamigos tequila brand.
- In 2018, Diageo sold several brands, including Myers's Rum and Popov vodka. However, they kept the Seagram's Seven Crown brand.
- In 2022, Diageo sold the Archers brand. They also bought the Australian coffee liqueur brand, Mr Black, and the Balcones Distilling whiskey company in Texas.
- In 2023, Diageo sold the Windsor blended Scotch brand. They also bought Don Papa, a rum brand.
- In February 2024, reports said Diageo was looking to sell Pimm's, Safari, and Pampero Rum. Safari and Pampero rum were sold in July 2024.
- On March 19, 2024, Diageo reopened the Port Ellen distillery after it had been closed for 40 years.
- In November 2024, the company created a new luxury division called Diageo Luxury Group. This group focuses on high-end spirits and special experiences.
- In January 2025, Diageo sold Cacique rum.
Where is Diageo's Main Office?
Diageo's main office is now on Great Marlborough Street in London. They moved there in 2022. Before that, their office was in Park Royal, London, on the site of an old Guinness brewery.
Diageo Around the Globe
Diageo operates in 180 countries. They have offices and operations in five main regions: Europe, North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia–Pacific, and Africa.
How Diageo Works
Diageo also owns a part of the Moet Hennessy drinks division. This division belongs to a French luxury goods company called LVMH. In 2017, Diageo was recognized for its good management practices.
Awards and Recognition
In 2016, Diageo was ranked highly for its diversity and inclusiveness among companies worldwide. In June 2023, one of its distilleries, Mortlach distillery in Scotland, won "Whisky of the Year" at an international competition.
See also
In Spanish: Diageo para niños
