Scottish bakery manufacturer Dean’s of Huntly has secured a £4.9 million funding package from Bank of Scotland as it looks to build on rising international demand for its shortbread, biscuits and savoury bakery products.
The Huntly-based family business, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, will use the funding to support its next phase of growth, with a focus on increasing production capacity, developing new customer relationships and strengthening its export operations.
The package includes trade finance and invoice finance facilities, designed to help the bakery manage the working capital demands associated with overseas growth. For manufacturers supplying international markets, longer lead times, larger orders and extended payment cycles can create pressure on cash flow, particularly as businesses scale production to meet demand.
Dean’s has reported growing appetite for its products across a range of export markets, including Australia, China, Japan, the United States and Europe. The company said demand is being driven by consumers seeking premium Scottish bakery products with strong provenance, traditional recipes and quality ingredients.
Founded in 1975 by Helen Dean, the business began with an original shortbread recipe baked to help raise funds for the local Huntly Pipe Band. From those community roots, Dean’s has developed into one of Scotland’s best-known bakery brands, producing shortbread, biscuits and savoury cheese bites from its base in Aberdeenshire.
The company moved into its purpose-built bakery in Huntly in 1992 and has continued to expand its manufacturing footprint over subsequent decades. In 2025, Dean’s increased its facilities to 80,000 sq ft to support continued sales growth and production requirements.
The latest funding comes during a significant year for the business. Alongside marking five decades since its foundation, Dean’s has also acquired fellow north-east bakery Duncan’s of Deeside, a move intended to strengthen the group’s scale and support its long-term growth ambitions.
Bill Dean, managing director of Dean’s, said the business remains proud of its family heritage while continuing to look for new opportunities in overseas markets. He highlighted the continued global appeal of Scottish shortbread and said exports represent an important part of the company’s future development.
Bank of Scotland said the funding reflects Dean’s ambition to grow internationally while continuing to invest in its operations and workforce in Scotland.
The development comes as provenance-led bakery brands continue to find opportunities in export markets, where regional specialities, premium gifting formats and traditional recipes can offer strong points of differentiation.
For Dean’s, the combination of expanded facilities, additional financial support and increased export demand is expected to help the business build on its established position in the Scottish bakery sector while reaching more customers overseas.
