Scotland enjoys a worldwide reputation as the land of food and drink.
A leading firm of Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers in the sector, with a growing client base across the UK, we work with over 540 food and drink producers of all sizes including many of the country’s most successful privately-owned companies.
Our comprehensive knowledge of the food & drink industry means we can bring a fresh approach and a flair for innovation which will provide the support you need to recognise your business ambitions as your business grows.
Whether you’re seeking a review of your business strategy ad hoc business advice,, or tax planning ideas, our team of food & drink accountants and advisers, led by Head of Food & Drink, Adam Hardie, have the answers to all your business queries. The team are seeing an increase demand for Digital Transformation, Outsourced Finance, and International Tax services.
We also have a dedicated fishing team led by our Head of Fishing, Alex Martin. Our specialist team has the sector expertise and local knowledge to help position your business for future growth and tackle your areas of financial concern.
Our network across the food & drink landscape and experience of delivering for clients at all stages of the production process means we have a complete understanding of the industry’s opportunities and challenges. That includes controlling raw material costs, working multiple retailers, supply chain management, labour challenges, export and access to funding.
Food & drink has consistently been one of the country’s best performing sectors in recent years, with the value of UK export figures amounting to £ 24.8bn last year.
Food & Drink industry report
Our latest Food & Drink industry report was launched in February 2023, reviewing the state of the sector in 2022.
The report is available to download and it takes a detailed look at key areas affecting the food & drink sector, including imports and exports, innovation and automation, funding for growth, performance and profitability, net-zero and overall business health.
Each section contains commentary from our experienced team here at Johnston Carmichael, as well as from partners who supported us with the survey; Scotland Food & Drink, Levercliff, HSBC.
Responses came from right across the sector, and from the UK. Many of the sector challenges affect all businesses regardless of size, but it’s important in a survey to capture how these common challenges vary for different businesses, depending on size, location within the UK and overall strategy.
If you would like to discuss anything in the report, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
We'll work with you to understand your priorities and help you realise your ambitions for your business.
*Please note that the food and drink map is a registered trade mark of Johnston Carmichael LLP. ® 2018.
Memberships/sponsorships
We work closely with the key food and drink membership bodies and platforms to ensure that we are constantly up to date with developments across the sector. This depth of knowledge also lets us keep our own clients informed and connected.
We also support several sector events, awards and start-up initiatives. Extending our support and knowledge far and wide is important to us as a Firm.
Business Development Partner and Head of Food & Drink
Adam Hardie
Adam Hardie brings a particular expertise in the understanding of clients' issues, unlocking routes to market and the development of strategic plans.
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Business Advisory Director & Head of Fishing
Alex Martin
Director in our Aberdeen office, Alex is a provider of business advisory services to the fishing industry and is also Head of Fishing for the firm.
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Business Advisory Partner
Stewart Pennington
Stewart is a CA with experience across accounting and taxation disciplines. He joined Johnston Carmichael in July 2007, and manages a portfolio of clients providing accounting, tax and business advisory services to corporate and non-corporate clients of all sizes.
Meet our team
