Vegetable production company, ESG Drysdale, has secured a £10 million funding package from Royal Bank of Scotland to support its continued growth as one of the UK's largest growers and packers of vegetables. This investment follows a period of rapid growth for the business, with ESG Drysdale now firmly positioned on a strong upward trajectory.

An established supplier to major UK supermarkets, ESG Drysdale operates state of the art production and storage facilities in the Scottish Borders as well as Fife & Angus, spanning a fertile area for growing vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbages, brussels sprouts, leeks and swede. The business plays a critical role in year‑round UK vegetable supply, combining predominantly domestic growing with a carefully managed network of partner growers to support customers with consistent availability throughout the year.

Delivered through a coordinated approach across the Royal Bank of Scotland relationship team, Lombard and RBS Invoice Finance, the funding will support investment into new production facilities, helping to improve efficiency and increase processing capacity as the business continues to scale.

In 2023, Drysdale was acquired by East of Scotland Growers, a co-operative which specialises in crop planning, agronomy, harvest co-ordination and marketing for members. This has provided the business with greater supply chain control and creating a more direct and resilient route between farmers and customers.

Since joining the co‑operative, ESG Drysdale has more than doubled turnover to over £50 million, driven by increased volumes, improved utilisation and a more diversified product mix, with further investment planned to support the next stage of expansion and long‑term growth over the coming years.

The Deal announcement comes days before the start of the Royal Bank of Scotland sponsored Royal Highland Show, the largest agricultural event in Scotland. The sponsorship is now in its 45th year.

John Inglis, Commercial Director at ESG Drysdale said: "We've built strong momentum over the past two years, and this funding allows us to accelerate plans.

The funding follows ESG Drysdale moving its banking relationship to Royal Bank of Scotland at the beginning of March. During the business' recent growth phase, Royal Bank of Scotland built a strong relationship with the management team to develop a clear understanding of its ambitions and plans for the next stage of expansion. This led to a unified, creative banking solution aligned with ESG Drysdale's position as one of the leading businesses in their sector in Scotland.

John Mills, Relationship Director for Corporate Banking at Royal Bank of Scotland said "ESG Drysdale plays an important role in the Scottish agri-food sector and in supplying fresh produce to customers across the UK. We're pleased to support the next phase of growth for a business that is strengthening resilience and creating a fairer, more direct link between farmers and key customers."