Two major Scottish shortbread brands merge with one site to close

A MAJOR Aberdeenshire shortbread brand has announced its acquisition of a neighbouring shortbread firm for an undisclosed sum.

Dean’s of Huntly has bought Duncan’s of Deeside, and the sale is estimated to deliver £20 million in revenue for this year.

The combined firms will also operate from the Huntly production plant after a six-month transition period to reduce the number of shifts run at the Duncan's facility.

All employees from Duncan's will be offered a role at the facility in Huntly, which is 54-miles away from Duncan's in Laurencekirk.

The Duncan's site, which makes shortbread and oatcakes, will be put up for sale once production has ceased.

Both company's make branded products and use similar manufacturing products.

It is understood Paul Duncan, co-owner and managing director of Duncan’s of Deeside, will remain with the combined businesses to "help drive the next phase of growth," according to Dean's.

Duncan said: “We are very excited to work with the Dean’s of Huntly team to deliver the next exciting phase of growth for the combined businesses."

Bill Dean, the managing director of Dean’s, said the acquisition of the “well-established, high-quality business” builds on the company’s recent organic growth.

Dean and his wife Helen established the company in 1975. It manufactures shortbread, biscuits and savoury cheese bites, and currently employs 130 people.