BOC Gases, the gas, health care, vacuum and distribution services company, has agreed a £5 million a year deal with Guinness Ireland. The dispensing gases contract, worth £5 million a year, will run until the year 2005. The company said yesterday it would recruit an extra 30 workers and invest over £15 million in equipment over the next two years.

"Publicans will be guaranteed consistent, superior pints of draught Guinness products, including an improved creamy head on stout and extra sparkle in ales and lagers," the firm added.

The contract will see BOC providing a gas service for each of the 10,500 Guinness outlets in Ireland, while the investment will include Gasegen nitrogen manufacturing units, cylinders, gas blenders and special vehicles to deliver more than 100,000 gas cylinders a year, the company said.