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HIGHLAND DISTILLERS LIMITED

Operating as a subsidiary of the Edrington Group, the company is a Scottish distiller and blender of Scotch whisky that produces renowned brands including The Macallan, Highland Park, and The Famous Grouse.

#SC158731 · Active · Incorporated 1995-06-19 (31y 4m) · Last filing 2026-10-07 (this month)
Consumer Staples · SIC 11010 · C Manufacturing · Full accounts
Accounts due 2027-12-31 (in 1y) · Confirmation due 2026-12-14 (in 2 months) · No watchouts on the register

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Cash

£2.3m

-17.9% lowest in 3 filed years

Net assets

£116m

+43.4% highest in 3 filed years

Employees

282

-8.4% lowest in 3 filed years

Profit before tax

£13m

+141.9% highest in 3 filed years

Accounts

3-year trend · Δ = latest vs prior filed period · latest reflected 2026-03-31

Metric Trend 2024-03-312025-03-312026-03-31 Δ vs prior
Turnover £113,900,000£115,900,000£39,400,000 -66%
Operating profit -£11,200,000-£22,000,000-£12,400,000 +43.6%
Profit before tax -£17,800,000-£30,100,000£12,600,000 +141.9%
Net profit ——— —
Cash £6,800,000£2,800,000£2,300,000 -17.9%
Total assets less current liabilities £129,000,000£98,500,000£163,500,000 +66%
Net assets £102,100,000£80,600,000£115,600,000 +43.4%
Equity £102,100,000£80,600,000£115,600,000 +43.4%
Average employees 291308282 -8.4%
Wages £20,900,000£20,100,000£18,400,000 -8.5%
Directors' remuneration £1,600,000£700,000— —
Highest paid director £600,000£400,000£500,000 +25%

Values shown as filed in the company's annual accounts. — indicates the figure wasn't present under that line item in that period. The Δ column is the change from the prior filed period as a percentage of |prior|; lines a company doesn't report show —. About these numbers

Ratios

Computed from the line items above — sparklines read oldest → newest

Ratio Trend 2024-03-312025-03-312026-03-31
Operating margin -9.8%-19.0%-31.5%
Return on capital employed -8.7%-22.3%-7.6%
Gearing (liabilities / total assets) 78.7%84.0%69.4%
Current ratio 0.87x0.87x1.09x
Interest cover -0.69x-1.22x-1.15x

Margins divide P&L lines by turnover. Gearing is liabilities over total assets. Current ratio is current assets over creditors falling due within one year. Interest cover is operating profit over absolute finance costs. Margin ratios are hidden where reported turnover is too small relative to profit to yield a meaningful figure — typical of holding companies whose income is mostly subsidiary dividends rather than trading revenue. Sector-distribution context coming next.

Name history

Renamed 3 times since incorporation

  1. HIGHLAND DISTILLERS LIMITED 2001-04-05 → present
  2. HIGHLAND DISTILLERS OPERATIONS LIMITED 1998-06-22 → 2001-04-05
  3. HIGHLAND MALT DISTILLING LIMITED 1995-07-20 → 1998-06-22
  4. M M & S (2274) LIMITED 1995-06-19 → 1995-07-20

Audit & accounting basis

Accounting basis
FRS 101
Reporting scope
Standalone (parent only)
Auditor
Deloitte LLP
Audit opinion
Unqualified (clean)
Going concern
Affirmed

“A full assessment of the appropriateness of the going concern method of preparation has been included in the Directors' Report.”

Group structure

  1. HIGHLAND DISTILLERS LIMITED · parent
    1. Highland Distribution Company Limited 100% · Scotland · Activities of distribution holding companies
    2. Highland Distribution Netherlands Limited 100% · Scotland · Activities of distribution holding companies
    3. Highland Distribution Ventures Limited 100% · Scotland · Activities of distribution holding companies
    4. The Glenrothes Distillery Company Limited 100% · Scotland · Dormant
    5. GT Distillery Limited 100% · Scotland · Dormant
    6. Edrington Taiwan Limited 87.5% · Taiwan · Sales and distribution of alcoholic beverages
    7. Edrington Sweden AB 100% · Sweden · Sales and distribution of alcoholic beverages
    8. Edrington Norge AS 100% · Norway · Sales and distribution of alcoholic beverages
    9. Edrington Finland OY 100% · Finland · Sales and distribution of alcoholic beverages
    10. Edrington Danmark A/S 100% · Denmark · Sales and distribution of alcoholic beverages
    11. Edrington Shanghai Limited 100% · China · Sales and distribution of alcoholic beverages
    12. Edrington Hong Kong Limited 100% · Hong Kong · Sales and distribution of alcoholic beverages
    13. Edrington Singapore Pte Limited 100% · Singapore · Sales and distribution of alcoholic beverages
    14. The Edrington Group USA, LLC 100% · United States · Sales and distribution of alcoholic beverages
    15. Edrington Middle East and Africa 100% · Cyprus · Sales and distribution of alcoholic beverages
    16. Edrington European Travel Retail Limited 100% · Scotland · Sales and distribution of alcoholic beverages
    17. Edrington Mexico Ltd (Edrington Mexico S.A. de C.V.) 100% · Mexico · Sales and distribution of alcoholic beverages
    18. Importadora EMEX Ltd (Importadora EMEX S.A. de .C.V.) 100% · Mexico · Importer of alcoholic beverages
    19. Servicios 1824 S.A. de C.V 100% · Mexico · Provision of employment services
    20. Edrington (Malaysia) SDN BHD 100% · Malaysia · Sales and distribution of alcoholic beverages
    21. BB&R Spirits Limited 100% · United Kingdom · Dormant
    22. Edrington UK Distribution Limited 100% · Scotland · Sales and distribution of alcoholic beverages
    23. Edrington France SAS 100% · France · Sales and distribution of alcoholic beverages
    24. Edrington India Private Limited 100% · India · Sales and distribution of alcoholic beverages

Significant events

Auditor, going-concern and subsidiary information is drawn from the narrative of the latest annual accounts. About these numbers

People

3 active · 24 resigned

Name Role Appointed Born Nationality
MCMANUS, Nicholas John Secretary 2020-07-23 — —
CAMPBELL, Lindsay Margaret Director 2019-09-12 Feb 1970 British
CHAPLIN, Jeremy Mcdowell Director 2023-08-03 Apr 1971 British
Show 24 resigned officers
Name Role Appointed Resigned
MORRISON, Fraser Stuart Secretary 1995-08-07 2017-06-05
ROBSON, Gemma May Secretary 2017-06-05 2020-07-23
MACLAY MURRAY & SPENS LLP Corporate Nominee Secretary 1995-06-19 1995-08-07
BAROUTSIS, Aristotelis, Mr. Director 2017-08-24 2023-08-03
BOYADJIAN, Igor Pierre Director 2019-06-03 2023-08-03
CAMERON, Brian William Director 1998-03-23 2000-04-28
CHAPLIN, Jeremy Mcdowell Director 2017-08-24 2019-09-20
COOKE, Martin Alexander Director 2009-11-05 2010-02-04
EASTON, Ronald Story Director 1998-02-02 2000-04-28
FARRAR, Richard William Director 2001-05-11 2017-06-05
FULLER, Jonathan Andrew Director 1997-08-27 1999-11-26
GLEN, Trina Catherine Director 2000-04-28 2009-11-05
GRIBBON, Glen James, Mr. Director 2012-02-13 2016-03-31
GRIER, Kenneth William Director 2001-10-12 2018-09-28
HUTCHEON, Graham Robert, Mr. Director 2010-03-31 2021-06-07
IVORY, Brian Gammell, Sir Director 1995-08-07 1999-11-18
JACKSON, Barrie Mason Director 2000-04-28 2005-05-31
MCCAFFER, Stuart John Director 1995-08-07 1998-02-27
MCCROSKIE, Scott John Director 2011-02-01 2019-06-03
MCGREGOR, William James Director 1995-08-07 1998-02-01
O'DONNELL, Gerrard Thomas Paul Director 2001-05-11 2012-02-13
WILSON, James Simpson Director 1995-08-07 1999-11-18
VINDEX LIMITED Corporate Nominee Director 1995-06-19 1995-08-07
VINDEX SERVICES LIMITED Corporate Nominee Director 1995-06-19 1995-08-07

Ownership

Persons with significant control

Name Kind Nature of control Notified Status
1887 Company Limited Corporate entity Shares 75–100%, Voting 75–100%, Appoints directors 2016-04-06 Active

Filing timeline

Last 20 of 191 total filings

Date Type Category Description
2026-10-07 AA accounts Accounts with accounts type full
2025-12-02 CS01 confirmation-statement Confirmation statement with no updates PDF
2025-10-31 AA accounts Accounts with accounts type full
2024-12-03 CS01 confirmation-statement Confirmation statement with no updates PDF
2024-09-30 AA accounts Accounts with accounts type full
2023-12-07 CS01 confirmation-statement Confirmation statement with no updates PDF
2023-11-09 MR04 mortgage Mortgage satisfy charge full PDF
2023-11-09 MR04 mortgage Mortgage satisfy charge full PDF
2023-11-09 MR04 mortgage Mortgage satisfy charge full PDF
2023-10-24 AA accounts Accounts with accounts type full
2023-08-10 TM01 officers Termination director company with name termination date PDF
2023-08-10 AP01 officers Appoint person director company with name date PDF
2023-08-10 TM01 officers Termination director company with name termination date PDF
2022-12-22 466(Scot) mortgage Mortgage alter floating charge with number
2022-12-22 466(Scot) mortgage Mortgage alter floating charge with number
2022-12-16 466(Scot) mortgage Mortgage alter floating charge with number
2022-12-16 466(Scot) mortgage Mortgage alter floating charge with number
2022-12-05 CS01 confirmation-statement Confirmation statement with no updates PDF
2022-10-07 AA accounts Accounts with accounts type full
2022-08-17 MR01 mortgage Mortgage create with deed with charge number charge creation date PDF

Public-record activity

Raw counts from Companies House — last 12–24 months

Filings
3

last 12 months

Capital events
0

last 24 months

Officers appointed
0

last 12 months

Officers resigned
0

last 12 months

Direct counts from the register. No score, no rating — see the Filing timeline for the underlying events.

Official Companies House page