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1 week ago | 
northern-scot.co.uk | Lewis McBlane
A shortbread company has warned of an “ever-tightening squeeze” on profits after reporting a six-figure loss despite rising sales. New accounts filed by Dean’s of Huntly reported a £345,430 loss, before tax, in the year up to June 30, 2024. The company, which bakes and sells a range of shortbread, biscuits and cakes had faced “hugely challenging” trading conditions, according to a statement from director William Dean.
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1 week ago | 
grampianonline.co.uk | Lewis McBlane
A shortbread company has warned of an “ever-tightening squeeze” on profits after reporting a six-figure loss despite rising sales. New accounts filed by Dean’s of Huntly reported a £345,430 loss, before tax, in the year up to June 30, 2024. The company, which bakes and sells a range of shortbread, biscuits and cakes had faced “hugely challenging” trading conditions, according to a statement from director William Dean.
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1 week ago | 
northern-scot.co.uk | Lewis McBlane
New data shows that NHS Grampian has been ranked bottom in mainland Scotland for five key measures. Released ahead of last week’s meeting of the health board, the organisation’s own data shows it was rated the worst in mainland Scotland against several important targets.
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1 week ago | 
northern-scot.co.uk | Lewis McBlane
The company behind the St Giles Centre has officially entered liquidation. As a result, assets owned by St Giles Shopping Centre Holdings Limited will be sold off to repay those who are owed money - including Moray Council. Liquidators Alistair McAlinden and James Dewar, from the firm Interpath, were appointed on April 8, 2025. The company, owned by Aviemore businessman David John Cameron through Upland Developments Limited, owns the lease and right to operate the Elgin shopping centre.
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1 week ago | 
northern-scot.co.uk | Lewis McBlane
A business organisation has narrowly failed to win another five-year term, after the local council refused to vote in favour of it. The Elgin Business Improvement District (BID) was rejected by a margin of 52 per cent against renewal and 48 per cent in favour. As a result, the organisation known for Elgin’s Christmas lights event, food and drink festival, and town centre regeneration, will no longer exist after the end of its current term.
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1 week ago | 
northern-scot.co.uk | Lewis McBlane
A health board ordered to cut millions more from its budget could be forced into “hard choices” about how to cause the “least harm”, a board meeting has heard. The Scottish Government has told NHS Grampian to slash another £24 million from this year’s budget - by a deadline just eight weeks away. An NHS Grampian board meeting agreed to start work on finding the extra savings along with approving a separate plan for £39 million of cuts.
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2 weeks ago | 
northern-scot.co.uk | Lewis McBlane
A Moray councillor has announced his plan to stand in the Scottish Parliament election - representing a seat across the Highland border. Councillor Jérémie Fernandes (Elgin City North, SNP) said he had nominated as a selection candidate by the Inverness and Nairn branch of the SNP for the 2026 Holyrood poll. Fergus Ewing, the incumbent MSP, has confirmed that he will not stand for the SNP next year but has not ruled out an independent run.
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3 weeks ago | 
northern-scot.co.uk | Lewis McBlane
New analysis has revealed that a world-famous whisky region had the country’s fewest daily binge drinkers. According to Scottish Government statistics, Moray had fewer heavy drinkers on average than any other Scottish council area. Just six per cent of people in Moray, which makes up nearly all of the Speyside whisky region, reported drinking more than eight units per day, for men, or six units per day for women.
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3 weeks ago | 
northern-scot.co.uk | Lewis McBlane
Twice-convicted murderer Nat Fraser did not attend his mother’s funeral, it is understood, despite reports he would released from jail for the event. Eyewitnesses said there was no sign of the 66-year-old - jailed for murdering his wife Arlene Fraser after a trial in 2003 and a retrial in 2012 - as family members commemorated his 93-year-old mother Ibby Fraser. Arlene’s body has never been found - with Fraser having never revealed its location.
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3 weeks ago | 
grampianonline.co.uk | Lewis McBlane
A young farmer has said her life went from “its very best, to its very worst” after she lost her mother just days after getting engaged. Nicola Wordie, who farms around 1400 acres near Huntly with her family, has spoken out as part of her mission to improve the wellbeing of others. In December 2023, the 26-year-old was on a high after her now-fiancé David proposed to her.
