Food & Drink Services

The Food & Drink, Fishing and Rural sectors have seen sweeping changes. Though the causes are varied, our response is similar: to provide the best support through agile and pragmatic solutions.

Jenny Buchanan

Virtual Finance Function Director

Contact Jenny Meet the team

Who we can help

FOOD & DRINK PROCESSORS IMPORTERS, WHOLESALERS & RETAILERS
FISHERIES
FISH & SEAFOOD PROCESSORS, WHOLESALERS & RETAILERS
RURAL & AGRICULTURAL BUSINESSES

How we can help

MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTS
AUDIT
BUSINESS ADVISORY
COMPLIANCE
CORPORATE FINANCE
FINANCIAL & STARTEGIC PLANNING
FUNDRAISING
M&A
OUTSOURCING
PAYROLL
TAX

TIMELY & KNOWLEDGEABLE ADVICE TO HELP YOU SUCCEED

Talk to us

Businesses in the food and drink, fishing and rural sectors are having to respond to a range of issues: labour and supply chain shortages and costs, Brexit, the impact of the pandemic, environmental pressures and evolving customer expectations. All this makes trading challenging, but by combining our proactive, creative response with years of sector experience, we can help you make the right business decisions to ensure your prosperity.

We will respond quickly to help you benefit from emerging opportunities and market demands. At the same time, we’ll take care to make sure your business models, financial structure and strategies are carefully planned, to provide maximum tax efficiency whilst satisfying the latest regulations.

MAXIMISING YOUR OPPORTUNITIES IN FOOD & DRINK

Evolving consumer tastes and increasing environmental awareness mean traditional food and drink businesses are facing stiff competition from disruptors and transformative business models. It’s challenging but also exciting and our specialists will use their extensive knowledge of the sector to help ensure your business is fit for the new era.

We can help you structure and finance your business appropriately, whether you’re adapting your existing model, expanding internationally or are new to the market. Wherever you are in your business lifecycle our full range of services, from fundraising to payroll support, will help you operate efficiently from a strong and stable platform. To help keep you fully up to speed with developments and opportunities, we are members of Scotland Food and Drink and the Highland Food and Drink Club, regularly getting involved in industry discussions and providing insights to the business community.

Maximise on opportunities today

I was particularly impressed by AAB’s appreciation of the strategic importance of the deal. Additionally, the AAB team quickly understood the very complex structure of the target and were pivotal in advising on how best to approach this.
Ross Baxter, Harbro Limited

AT THE HEART OF THE FISHING COMMUNITY

With our headquarters in Aberdeen, we’ve been dedicated supporters of the fishing and seafood sector for decades, committed to serving the local communities whilst keeping a close watch on international markets. Whether you’re catching, processing, wholesaling or retailing fish, we understand your business and provide a knowledgeable, tailored service.

Fluctuating cash flow, profit margins and quotas can all cause uncertainty, so our experts will advise you on how to operate efficiently, minimise tax exposure and maximise return on your investment. We’ll help you safeguard your business through our comprehensive corporate finance services, including M&A, MBOs and painstaking due diligence.

We’ll take the complexity out of areas such as IR35, all aspects of tax, VAT and Duty, and help you move over to cost-reducing systems such as outsourcing via our Virtual Finance Function. Our aim is to take the pressure off you, so you can concentrate on your business and look forward to achieving your goals.

Get expert support & advice

EMBEDDED IN THE RURAL LANDSCAPE

We have long-standing relationships with farms and rural businesses, but that doesn’t mean we’re rooted in tradition. We understand the impact of Brexit, new quotas and regulations, new technology and the increasing emphasis on environmental sustainability. Our experts can help you respond accordingly, through routes such as tax-efficient restructuring, diversification, financing and transaction support assistance with grants, using land for development and exploring renewables.

This is in addition to our well-established services for audit and compliance, inheritance tax, succession planning, landed estate, agricultural tenancies and financial planning, including investments and pensions, VAT, capital gains tax and R&D relief. We are commercially-minded and well-informed, keeping abreast of the regulations that affect your rural business and formulating plans to give you security and confidence.

Talk to our team today

Sign up for the latest industry insights

Blog6th Jun 2025
9 key steps for a fair and effective workplace investigation
When issues arise at work, be it misconduct, grievances, or policy breaches, employers have a duty to respond promptly and fairly. A well-conducted workplace investigation isn’t just about ticking boxes; it’s about creating a fair process that protects your people,…
By Vicky Madigan
View more
Blog1st Apr 2025
Employment Tax Reporting Deadlines: Are You Prepared?
The 5th of April is fast approaching, which brings the array of end-of-year reporting to HMRC! We have compiled a list of the key reporting deadlines which your business may need to be aware of in the upcoming months following the…
By Claire Bruce
View more
Blog5th Feb 2025
ESG Assurance: How Can It Create Value?
Environmental, social and governance information is increasingly used by stakeholders in decision-making. As a result, the demand for broader assurance of this non-financial information is growing. In this blog, we explore why we need assurance, its objectives, how it…
By Karen Coulter
View more
Blog6th Dec 2024
“Tis the Season” – Christmas Festivities & Employee Gifts, an Employers’ Guide to the Tax & NIC Implications
Now that Christmas is upon us (“oh yes, it is!”) employers will be turning their attention to their own employees having planned the much-awaited Christmas party! In addition to this, employers may also give gifts or arrange Christmas parties for…
By Gillian Forrest
View more