MGP Ingredients (Nasdaq: MGPI) idles Kentucky distilleries, maintains 2026 outlook
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
8-K
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
MGP Ingredients, Inc. is temporarily idling distilling operations at its Limestone Branch Distillery in Lebanon, Kentucky and Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown, Kentucky to better match production with current whiskey inventory levels. Distilling will continue at its largest facility in Lawrenceburg, Indiana to support brands, clients, and customers.
The idling takes effect on May 1, 2026, with operations expected to resume when inventories justify more production, which the company says could be as early as 12 months later. The decision affects 33 employees, and MGP is working directly with them during the transition. Warehousing, bottling, barrel programs, and visitor centers at both Kentucky sites will remain open.
The company states the change is not expected to affect product or service availability and it reaffirms its consolidated 2026 sales, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted basic EPS guidance previously announced.
Positive
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Negative
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Insights
MGP reduces Kentucky whiskey output amid oversupply but keeps 2026 guidance intact.
MGP Ingredients is responding to a “structurally oversupplied” American whiskey market by temporarily idling distilling at two Kentucky facilities while maintaining production at its larger Indiana plant. This targets excess inventory rather than shrinking the overall branded spirits platform.
The company expects the pause, starting May 1, 2026, could last about 12 months, affecting 33 employees. However, warehousing, bottling, barrel programs, and visitor centers continue operating, and the company says product availability for clients and customers should remain unchanged.
Importantly, management reaffirms consolidated 2026 sales, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted basic EPS guidance announced in February 2026, suggesting the move is primarily an efficiency and inventory-management action rather than a downward reset of financial expectations in the provided disclosure.
8-K Event Classification
2 items: 7.01, 9.01
2 items
Item 7.01
Regulation FD Disclosure
Disclosure
Material non-public information disclosed under Regulation Fair Disclosure, often investor presentations or guidance.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Key Figures
Idling start date: May 1, 2026
Employees affected: 33 employees
Potential idling duration: 12 months
3 metrics
Idling start date
May 1, 2026
Effective date for temporary idling of two Kentucky distilleries
Employees affected
33 employees
Staff across Limestone Branch and Lux Row distilleries impacted by idling
Potential idling duration
12 months
Operations could resume as early as 12 months after May 1, 2026
Key Terms
temporary idling, structurally oversupplied, adjusted EBITDA, Regulation FD Disclosure, +1 more
5 terms
temporary idling financial
"announced plans to temporarily idle distilling operations at its Limestone Branch Distillery"
structurally oversupplied market
"The American whiskey market continues to be structurally oversupplied, with excess capacity and elevated inventory."
adjusted EBITDA financial
"The company reaffirms its consolidated 2026 sales, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted basic EPS guidance"
Adjusted EBITDA is a way companies measure how much money they make from their core operations, like running a business, by removing certain costs or income that aren’t part of regular business activities. It helps investors see how well a company is doing without distractions from unusual expenses or gains, making it easier to compare companies or track performance over time.
Regulation FD Disclosure regulatory
"Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure."
forward-looking statements regulatory
"This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995"
Forward-looking statements are predictions or plans that companies share about what they expect to happen in the future, like estimating sales or profits. They matter because they help investors understand a company's outlook, but since they are based on guesses and assumptions, they can sometimes be wrong.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 7, 2026
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||||||
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(913 ) 367-1480
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.
On April 7, 2026, MGP Ingredients, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing the temporary idling of distilling operations at its two Kentucky distilleries and reaffirming the Company’s full-year 2026 financial outlook. A copy of this press release is being furnished as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
The information contained in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except to the extent expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
| Exhibit Number | Description | |||||||
| 99.1 | Press release dated April 7, 2026 | |||||||
| 104 | The cover page from this Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted in iXBRL (Inline Extensible Business Reporting Language) | |||||||
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
MGP INGREDIENTS, INC.
Date: April 7, 2026 | By: | /s/ Brandon M. Gall | ||||||
| Brandon M. Gall, Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||
MGP INGREDIENTS ANNOUNCES TEMPORARY IDLING OF OPERATIONS AT TWO KENTUCKY DISTILLING FACILITIES
Reaffirms full year 2026 financial outlook
ATCHISON, Kan. (April 7, 2026) — MGP Ingredients, Inc. (Nasdaq: MGPI), a leading provider of branded and distilled spirits and food ingredient solutions, today announced plans to temporarily idle distilling operations at its Limestone Branch Distillery in Lebanon, Kentucky and Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown, Kentucky, as the company adjusts production levels to align with its current inventory levels.
MGP will continue distilling operations at its largest facility in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, to support its brands, clients, and customers.
The temporary idling will take effect on May 1, 2026. MGP expects to resume distilling operations when inventory levels support additional production, which could be as early as 12 months after that date. The decision will affect 33 employees across the two facilities. MGP is working directly with those impacted to support them through the transition.
Other operations, including warehousing, bottling and barrel programs, will continue. The visitor centers at both distilleries will also remain open and continue to offer their full complement of immersive experiences that includes tours, tastings, retail offerings, limited release bottles and on-site engagements.
“The American whiskey market continues to be structurally oversupplied, with excess capacity and elevated inventory. Like many companies across the industry, we are navigating a challenging environment and taking steps to better align our operations with current inventory levels while supporting our efficiency and productivity goals,” said Julie Francis, president and CEO of MGP Ingredients. “As a result, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily idle distilling operations at these two facilities. This decision was not made lightly. We are grateful for the contributions of our teams, committed to supporting those impacted, and remain confident these distilleries will continue to play an important role in our business in the future.”
The temporary idling is not expected to impact the availability of MGP’s products or services to clients or customers.
The company reaffirms its consolidated 2026 sales, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted basic EPS guidance announced in its earnings press release issued on February 25, 2026.
About MGP Ingredients, Inc.
MGP Ingredients Inc. (Nasdaq: MGPI) has been formulating excellence since 1941 by bringing product ideas to life across the alcoholic beverage and specialty ingredient industries through three segments: Branded Spirits, Distilling Solutions, and Ingredient Solutions. MGPI is one of the leading spirits distillers with an award-winning portfolio of premium brands including Penelope, Rebel, Remus, and Yellowstone bourbons and El Mayor tequila, under the Luxco umbrella. With distilleries in Indiana and Kentucky; a tequila distillery in Arandas, Mexico; and bottling operations in Missouri, Ohio, and Northern Ireland, the company creates distilled spirits for customers including many world-renowned spirits brands. In addition, the company’s high-quality specialty fiber, protein, and starch ingredients provide functional, nutritional, and sensory solutions for a wide range of food products. To learn more visit MGPIngredients.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including without limitation statements about the outlook and guidance of MGP Ingredients, Inc. (the “Company” or “MGP”), when distilling operations are excepted to resume, and the impact of the facility idling. Forward looking statements are usually identified by or are associated with words such as “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “forecast,” “hopeful,” “should,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “encouraged,” “opportunities,” “potential,” and similar terminology. These forward-looking statements reflect management’s current beliefs and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, Company performance, Company financial results, and Company financial condition and are not guarantees of future performance.
All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include without limitation any effects of changes in consumer preferences and purchases and our ability to anticipate or react to those changes; our ability to compete effectively and any effects of industry dynamics and market conditions; unfavorable economic conditions; damage to our reputation or that of any of our key customers or their brands; failure to introduce successful new brands and products or have effective marketing or advertising; changes in public opinion about alcohol or our products; our reliance on our distributors to distribute our branded spirits; our reliance on fewer, more profitable customer relationships; interruptions in our operations or a catastrophic event at our facilities; decisions concerning the quantity of maturing stock of our aged distillate; any inability to successfully complete our capital projects or fund capital expenditures or any warehouse expansion issues; our reliance on a limited number of suppliers; work disruptions or stoppages; climate change and measures to address climate change; regulation and taxation and compliance with existing or future laws and regulations; tariffs, trade relations, and trade policies; excise taxes, incentives and customs duties; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights and defend against alleged intellectual property rights infringement claims; failure to secure and maintain listings in control states; labeling or warning requirements or limitations on the availability of our products; product recalls or other product liability claims; anti-corruption laws, trade sanctions, and restrictions; litigation or legal proceedings; limited rights of common stockholders and anti-takeover provisions in our governing documents; the impact of issuing shares of our common stock; higher costs
or the unavailability and cost of raw materials, product ingredients, energy resources, or labor; failure of our information technology systems, networks, processes, associated sites, or service providers; inability to successfully implement our strategies; interest rate increases; reliance on key personnel; impairment charges; commercial, political, and financial risks; covenants and other provisions in our credit arrangements; pandemics or other health crises; ability to pay any dividends and make any share repurchases. For further information on these risks and uncertainties and other factors that could affect the Company’s business, see the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, as well as the Company’s other SEC filings. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or information in this press release, except as required by law.
For More Information Contact:
For Investor Relations:
investor.relations@mgpi.com
For Media Inquiries:
Amy Clark
amy@thebrandguild.com
FAQ
What change did MGP Ingredients (MGPI) announce for its Kentucky distilleries?
MGP Ingredients will temporarily idle distilling operations at Limestone Branch Distillery and Lux Row Distillers in Kentucky. The move aligns production with elevated whiskey inventories while keeping warehousing, bottling, barrel programs, and visitor centers at both locations fully operating for customers and visitors.
When does the MGP Ingredients (MGPI) distillery idling start and how long could it last?
The temporary idling of distilling operations begins on May 1, 2026. MGP expects to resume distilling when inventory levels support more production, which the company indicates could be as early as 12 months after that date, depending on inventory conditions and demand.
How many employees are affected by MGP Ingredients’ (MGPI) Kentucky idling decision?
The decision affects 33 employees across the two Kentucky distilleries. MGP Ingredients states it is working directly with those impacted to support them through the transition, while other on-site activities such as warehousing, bottling, and visitor center operations continue unchanged.
Will MGP Ingredients’ (MGPI) product availability be impacted by idling two distilleries?
The company states the temporary idling is not expected to impact availability of its products or services. MGP will continue distilling at its largest facility in Lawrenceburg, Indiana and maintain warehousing, bottling, and barrel programs to keep serving brands, clients, and customers.
Did MGP Ingredients (MGPI) change its 2026 financial guidance with this announcement?
No, MGP Ingredients reaffirmed its consolidated 2026 sales, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted basic EPS guidance. That guidance was originally provided in its earnings press release issued on February 25, 2026, indicating the company’s financial outlook remains unchanged in this disclosure.
Why is MGP Ingredients (MGPI) idling operations at two Kentucky facilities?
MGP cites a structurally oversupplied American whiskey market with excess capacity and elevated inventories. The company is temporarily idling these distilling operations to better align production with current inventory levels while supporting efficiency and productivity objectives across its spirits business.