Former Brown-Forman Louisville cooperage site sold to Missouri-based company

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — After closing its Louisville cooperage in April, the former site of Brown-Forman's barrel-making operation has been sold.

The former 16-acre site on MacLean Avenue was bought by Lebanon, Missiouri-based Independent Stave Co. for $13.66 million, according to our partners at Louisville Business First. The sale was finalized May 1, according to the deed filed with the Jefferson County Clerk's Office.

In January, the company announced a corporate restructuring, cutting 12% of its global workforce, and the closure of the Louisville cooperage, leaving 210 workers out of a job. The company said the closure saves about $70 million to $80 million a year.

Before closing, the cooperage, which opened in 1945, produced about 2,000 barrels a day.

However, the site won't be producing any barrels for the foreseeable future. Teri Smith, marketing and communications director of Independent Stave Co., told LBF they have no plans of reopening the barrel operation.

"At the time of acquisition, the cooperage was not in operation, and we have no plans to reopen it. The property will be sold at a later date," Smith said.

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Brown-Forman cutting global workforce, closing barrel-making operation in Louisville

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