Dean’s of Huntly secures £1m loan to expand global shortbread exports

Dean’s of Huntly, a premium shortbread producer based in Aberdeenshire, has secured a £1 million trade loan to expand its global operations. The loan, provided by the Bank of Scotland and guaranteed by UK Export Finance (UKEF) through its General Export Facility, is intended to help the family-owned company meet rising demand in markets including Australia, China, Japan, the US, and Europe.

The funding will support increased production capacity and investments in upgraded equipment and solar panels. These sustainability initiatives are projected to reduce the company’s carbon emissions by 49.5 tonnes annually.

This financial boost follows the company’s recent acquisition of Duncan’s of Deeside, an expansion that has grown the local workforce from 140 to 200 full-time employees. Minister for Trade Anas Sarwar noted that the support helps the Scottish food and drink sector succeed by providing access to necessary finance for international growth.