The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Whisky distiller in dram good health as sales rise
PRODUCER: Group operates the historic Glencadam Distillery at Brechin
Improved export sales helped independent premium spirits producer Angus Dundee Distillers to higher profits last year.
New accounts for the Londonregistered group behind Brechin’s Glencadam Distillery and Tomintoul on Speyside show sales moved ahead by more than £2 million in the year to June 30, while pre-tax profits edged ahead from £15.87m to £16.12m.
In her strategic report to the accounts, director Tania Hillman said the company was committed to ongoing investment in its malt distilleries and bottling plant.
One major investment was completed post-year end when a new still arrived at Glencadam in September to replace the distillery’s 50-year-old copper still which had worn perilously thin through decades of constant use.
The operation saw part of the roof of Glencadam removed to allow the old still to be lifted free and its exact replica replacement – which was manufactured by Forsyth’s of Rothes – to be lowered into place using a heavy lift crane.
The old still is now in use in the grounds of the distillery as a tourist attraction.
Ms Hillman said the business had made progress in the year.
“There was a 3.8% increase in turnover during the year from £55m to £57m, which was mainly due to an increase in sales to overseas markets,” she said.
“As a result, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased from £16.9m to £17.1m.
“Gross profit margins increased from 36.05% to 36.13% during the year.”
Glencadam Distillery was founded in 1825 and has two stills producing around 1.5 million litres of spirit each year.
The accounts show Angus Dundee carried an average monthly staff of 134 last year, split almost evenly between production roles at Glencadam and Tomintoul and the administration side of the business.
The group is ultimately controlled by its majority shareholders, Tania Hillman and Aaron Hillman.