Dean’s is a family-owned business based in Huntly, Aberdeenshire, producing premium shortbread, biscuits and savoury cheese bites and we pride ourselves on using time honoured handcrafted baking methods.
The story began in 1975 when Helen Dean started baking shortbread in her kitchen in Huntly to raise funds for the Huntly Pipe Band, where her husband Bill was drum major.
From these humble origins Dean’s has developed significantly, currently employing approximately 130 people across the business.
The success of the company has been built upon the popularity of Helen’s original shortbread recipe and over the years we have continued to innovate with the development of further shortbread products as well as our popular savoury cheese bites, gluten free shortbread and plant based shortbread.
Onsite, we have our Gift Shop and Bistro, which both offer a wide variety of choice to customers along with viewing windows into our production areas.
As a family-owned business, we consider our customers part of our extended family. We strive to provide exceptional customer service and an enjoyable shopping experience. Explore our online store for your favourite shortbread treats, delivered direct to the door.
Whether you're a lifelong fan or new to the world of Scottish shortbread, Dean's has something to satisfy every craving. From our classic all butter shortbread fingers to indulgent chocolate chip shortbread and savoury cheddar bites, we offer a range of flavours and sizes for every occasion. Treat yourself or surprise a loved one with a delightful hamper filled with our mouth-watering creations, making any occasion truly special.
A little about us
Our story begins in 1975 at the heart of Helen Dean’s kitchen, in the small town of Huntly, North East Scotland. It was here that Helen first created her delicious traditional shortbread, and her friends and family loved the ‘melt in the mouth’ sensation. Her husband Bill, a Drum Major, thought it was so delicious he decided to use Helen’s baking to help raise funds for the local Huntly pipe band.
Their touring helped spread her shortbread’s fame far and wide, and soon, the aroma of home baking would fill the town as Helen established her own small bakery to meet demand.
Family at the heart
Helen's light and crumbly shortbread was so popular that in 1992, we moved from a shop in the centre of the town, to a new purpose built bakery on the outskirts of Huntly. Our bakery looks much bigger but we have been at this bakery ever since and still baking Helen's melt in the mouth shortbread, just on a slightly bigger scale!
We remain a family run business and we are incredibly proud of the fact we use time honoured handcrafted baking methods. Today we are recognised as ‘A Leading Premium Quality Scottish Shortbread’.
Dean's Overseas
Our brand has enjoyed incredible growth since those very early days in Helen Dean’s kitchen.
Now a household brand across Scotland and quickly spreading across the rest of the UK, more and more people are discovering the delicious melt-in-the-mouth taste and texture of our premium shortbread and biscuits.
In addition, we now export to around 30 countries around the world, including Australia, China, the USA, and many European countries.
