Dozens of businesses across Aberdeen and the wider North-east of Scotland have been left out of pocket after the craft beer producer BrewDog entered administration earlier this year. A recent report from the administrators has detailed that 59 local firms are collectively owed £2,377,513 following the collapse of the Ellon-based company.
BrewDog became insolvent and entered administration on 2 March 2026, leading to nearly 500 staff redundancies as 38 bars across the UK and Ireland closed immediately. Joint administrators Clare Kennedy, Ian Partridge, and Ben Browne of AlixPartners were appointed to oversee the process. Following the administration, BrewDog’s brand, intellectual property, UK brewing operations – including its Ellon brewery – and 11 strategic brewpubs in the UK and Ireland were acquired by US-based Tilray Brands for £33 million. This acquisition preserved approximately 733 UK jobs.
The administrators’ report revealed BrewDog’s total debts exceeded £550 million. This comprised over £280 million within BrewDog PLC and an additional £270 million attributed to its retail arm, which managed the company’s bars.
While preferential creditors, such as those owed workers’ wages totalling £232,000, are expected to receive full payment, the outlook for unsecured creditors is grim. Unsecured creditors for the PLC, with claims around £190 million, are projected to receive less than a penny in the pound. For the retail business, unsecured creditors are owed an estimated £207.7 million, with no dividend likely to be paid.
Among the North-east businesses affected are major local players and smaller enterprises. ARR Craib Transport in Dyce is listed as being owed a substantial £1,568,592, with packaging supplier Pitreavie Packaging Ltd owed £115,636, and Sinclair Agricultural and Recycling Services Ltd due £115,591. Other creditors include local authorities, with Aberdeenshire Council owed £238,252 and Aberdeen City Council owed £23,559. Smaller businesses such as The Coffee Apothecary in Ellon are also among those impacted, owed £4,421.
The situation has drawn criticism from some quarters regarding the insolvency process.
An Aberdeen managing director, who chose to remain anonymous, told the P&J:
You Might Also Like:
“The current system of companies going into liquidation and suppliers being left high and dry, while the new company effectively buys the assets and walks away from the debt is wrong. If a company wants to buy a business from liquidators, they should honour the debt.
To add insult to injury, suppliers are often asked to continue working with the new company after taking a loss. As suppliers, we have no voice. The law needs to change.”
The 59 local firms owed money after Brewdog collapse are:
- 4MS Network Solutions Ltd, Bridge of Don, £2,082
- A2+B LLP, Kingswells, £7,392
- Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, Bridge of Don, £1,677
- Aberdeen City Council, £23,559
- Aberdeenshire Council, £238,252
- Advanced Refrigeration, Udny, £10,578
- Alpha Directors Pension Fund, Ellon, £4,616
- ARR Craib Transport, Dyce, £1,568,592
- Black Arc Industries Ltd, Mintlaw, £2,174
- Blueflag Seafoods, Aberdeen, £96
- Boiler & Valve Engineering Ltd, Nairn, £32,563
- Bon Accord Training Ltd, Ellon, £3,328
- Chas W. Black & Sons, Pitmedden, £100
- Crest Glazing, Aberdeen, £1,212
- Delta Unified Solutions, Buckie, £2,737
- Edmundson Electrical, Aberdeen, £264
- EIS Waste, Aberdeen, £2,299
- Electric Centre, Inverurie, £1,136
- Ewan Morrice Quality Butcher, Peterhead, £1,702
- Fawcett Print Services Ltd / XIC, Aberdeen, £278
- Forsyths Ltd, Moray, £5,946
- Gilmar Engineering, Ellon, £336
- Goldstar Services, Aberdeen, £382
- Grampian Fasteners, Dyce, £506
- Gym Rental Company (formerly D G Fitness & Leisure Ltd), Aberdeen, £492
- Hamifly Limited t/a AJM Plumbing, Aberdeen, £78
- Hays Hydraulics & Mechanical Services, Aberdeen, £2,160
- Highland Distillers, Craigellachie, £130
- Highland Wholefoods COOP, Inverness, £470
- Inspectahire Instrument Co Ltd, Aberdeen, £1,489
- JBW (77) Ltd, Ellon, £41,528
- Johnston Carmichael, Aberdeen, £15,234
- K B Pub Aberdeen, Aberdeen, £4,375
- Langstane Press, Aberdeen, £3,028
- Linde Material Handling UK Ltd, Aberdeen, £3,448
- MB Air, Dyce, £12,032
- McKenzie Electrical Solutions Ltd T/A MES Power Engineering, Kinellar, £4,239
- Newmech Services Ltd, Newmachar, £15,699
- Northern Platforms & Staging Ltd, Peterhead, £1,506
- Nucore Group, Aberdeen, £155
- Pitreavie Packaging Ltd, Aberdeen, £115,636
- Quartzelec Ltd, Dyce, £4,725
- Raeburn Christie Clark & Wallace LLP, Aberdeen, £1,200
- Ravenscragg Ltd T/A Driver Hire Aberdeen, Aberdeen, £14,976
- RS Taxis & Minicoach Hire, Inverurie, £3,750
- Scotia Instrumentation Ltd, Aberdeen, £573
- Scots Bearings Ltd, Dyce, £19,476
- Sinclair Agricultural and Recycling Services Ltd, Udny, £115,591
- Smart Employee Eyecare, Aberdeen, £198
- Spey Projects, Elgin, £6,780
- Speyside Labs Ltd, Fochabers, £2,172
- SR & GM Limited T/A MB Plant, Peterhead, £6,409
- Star Innovations Ltd, Aberdeen, £32,317
- Streamline Shipping Agencies Ltd, Aberdeen, £197
- Stronachs, Aberdeen, £2,160
- The Coffee Apothecary, Ellon, £4,421
- The MCL Group (Int) T/A MCL Medics, Aberdeen, £28,699
- The Ythan Bakery, Ellon, £106
- W.M Rennie & Sons, Peterhead, £257
