Nairn’s began producing oat-based bakery products in 1896, when John and Sarah Nairn established their bakery in Strathaven, Lanarkshire.
More than 130 years later, the company has become the UK’s leading oatcake manufacturer. Despite this growth, Nairn’s continues to follow the straightforward, natural principles that have shaped the business since its foundation.
The company now operates bakeries in Edinburgh and Midlothian, preserving the recipes, production methods and quality standards that have defined the brand from the outset. Its products are sold throughout the UK and exported to more than 40 countries.
Many employees at Nairn’s sites come from local families, with some representing multiple generations. The business has expanded in recent years as demand has increased for its established products, new launches and broader oat-based portfolio across domestic and overseas markets. Its gluten-free biscuits and snacks have also delivered strong performance alongside the core oatcake range.
How has trading performed this year?
We continue to identify growth opportunities across our oatcake, gluten-free and wider oat-based categories, although market conditions remain difficult. As with many businesses in the food and beverage industry, we are managing higher labour, packaging and operational expenses while consumers remain cautious with their spending. Our priority is responsible, long-term development rather than pursuing expansion at any cost. Nairn’s benefits from a trusted brand, a committed consumer base and considerable potential to increase demand for nutritious, oat-based products in the UK and international markets. These priorities also reflect wider food and beverage industry trends and evolving food and drink consumer trends.
Which new printing or other technologies have attracted your attention?
We are particularly interested in solutions that enhance packaging performance while protecting the product, improving shelf presence, supporting recyclability and controlling costs. Digital printing and related developments in print technology are valuable because they can make shorter production runs, seasonal artwork and more targeted packaging financially viable. This could be especially useful for a brand such as Nairn’s when marking important anniversaries or introducing limited-edition pack designs. It is also an example of how food processing technology and food and drink packaging innovation can support brand development.
What was the thinking behind the new pack design?
Our 130th anniversary provided an opportunity to give one of our best-known products a distinctive new presentation. Rough Oatcakes was an obvious choice because it helped establish the business more than a century ago and remains an important and popular product today.
We worked with renowned Scottish illustrator Emily Hogarth on a special-edition carton that celebrates creativity, heritage and skilled craftsmanship. The pack launched in major UK retailers during the summer. The project allowed us to present a familiar product from a modern perspective while protecting the authenticity and simplicity that remain fundamental to Nairn’s. Emily’s handcrafted papercut technique was an ideal fit for the concept. Drawing on the oat fields around her studio, she made the oat the central visual element and highlighted its importance to Nairn’s products.
What are your sustainability priorities and key achievements?
Reducing the environmental footprint of our operations and packaging remains an ongoing priority. We view sustainability as a continuous process rather than a single completed project. In recent years, we have introduced several packaging improvements, including replacing mixed laminate films with more sustainable options.
Our future work will focus on using packaging materials responsibly, designing with recycling in mind and selecting solutions that provide clear, measurable environmental advantages. These efforts form part of broader food and drink sustainability commitments across the sector, alongside changing food and drink regulations and emerging food manufacturing trends.
What would a successful 2026 look like for Nairn’s?
Success in 2026 will mean recognising the strong platform created during Nairn’s 130-year history while continuing to build for the future. The anniversary gives us an opportunity to celebrate the people, products and values that have shaped the company. At the same time, we will continue investing in our teams and operations, developing the business and pursuing meaningful food and drink industry innovation.
We also see opportunities to respond to changing food distribution trends and develop effective food and drink marketing that communicates the quality, heritage and relevance of the brand to consumers in both established and international markets.
