From pipe band to premium exporter: Scottish shortbread firm scales global sales with UKEF support

Government-backed finance helps Aberdeenshire's Dean's of Huntly scale up production and meet growing export demand across four continents.

A £1 million trade loan, guaranteed by UK Export Finance, enables Dean’s of Huntly to meet rising export demand in Australia, China, Japan, the US and Europe

Dean’s recent growth includes the acquisition of fellow Aberdeenshire shortbread maker Duncan’s of Deeside, taking local jobs from 140 to 200

Dean’s of Huntly, a premium Scottish shortbread maker, has secured a £1 million trade loan, guaranteed by UK Export Finance (UKEF), to scale production and meet export demand across Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.

The Aberdeenshire business received the loan from Bank of Scotland, backed by UKEF’s General Export Facility (GEF) – a loan guarantee designed to unlock flexible finance for small and medium enterprises seeking to boost their exports.

The GEF-backed loan will enable Dean’s to ramp up production and fulfil orders across Australia, China, Japan, the US and Europe, while investing in solar panels and upgraded equipment to boost efficiency and sustainability. Together, these improvements will cut the company’s carbon emissions by 49.5 tonnes per year – the equivalent of a petrol car travelling around the Earth 5 times.   

These developments continue Dean’s sustained growth journey, following last year’s acquisition of Duncan’s of Deeside, a fellow Aberdeenshire shortbread specialist. This expansion has brought an increase from 140 to 200 in full-time local jobs.

Scottish shortbread is enjoyed across the world and it’s fantastic to see UKEF back Dean’s of Huntly as they expand into exciting new markets.

By helping businesses access the finance they need, UKEF is supporting our world-class food and drink sector to succeed and drive growth across the UK.

The family-owned company traces its origins to 1975, when Helen Dean baked homemade shortbread to fundraise for the local Huntly Pipe Band, where her husband was drum major.