Corporate information describes the business as having developed over four generations, with products sold in markets beyond the United Kingdom.

1868: Foundation

Baxters traces its origins to 1868, when 25-year-old George Baxter, who had been working as a gardener on the Gordon Castle Estate, decided to establish his own grocery business. He opened a small shop in Fochabers using money borrowed from family members. His wife, Margaret Baxter, began producing jams and jellies from locally sourced fruit at the back of the shop. These products became popular locally and eventually attracted customers connected with the nearby Gordon Castle.

Early 20th Century: Expansion

George and Margaret’s son, William Baxter, subsequently entered the family business. In the early 20th century, William and his wife Ethel Baxter expanded manufacturing operations by establishing a factory close to the River Spey. Ethel concentrated on developing jams and other preserved foods, while William travelled throughout Scotland to sell the company’s products.

1920s: Canning and Soup

During the 1920s, Baxters expanded from preserves into canned foods, beginning production of canned Scottish fruits such as strawberries, raspberries, and plums. 1

A major turning point occurred in 1929 when Ethel Baxter began developing soups. One of her earliest and most famous creations was Royal Game, a soup made using venison from the Upper Speyside area. Royal Game became an integral part of Baxters’ identity, helping to establish the company as a producer of premium Scottish soups. The firm soon gained customers among prestigious British retailers such as Harrods and Fortnum & Mason.

1950s: The Ena and Gordon Baxter Era

Another significant chapter began in 1952 when Ena Baxter, an artist and cook, joined the family business after marrying Gordon Baxter. Ena and Gordon developed a wider range of soups based on traditional Scottish recipes, including:

• Cock-a-Leekie
• Scotch Broth
• Chicken Broth
• Other traditional Scottish soup recipes

Their work helped transform Baxters from a regional preserves manufacturer into a nationally recognised Scottish food brand.

Baxters received Royal Warrants of Appointment during the 1950s for the manufacture of Scottish food specialties. The company’s history records recognition associated with Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and King Gustav VI of Sweden. This royal association became an important element of Baxters’ reputation for traditional Scottish food and premium quality.

By the 1960s, Baxters had moved beyond the Scottish and British markets. The company began exporting its products internationally and developed the “Best of Scotland” concept, combining Scottish specialty foods, gift packs, and related products. Its products reached markets in Europe, North America, South Africa, Japan, and Australia. This expansion helped Baxters establish itself not simply as a soup manufacturer but as a representative of Scottish food culture.

While emphasising traditional recipes and heritage, Baxters has also pursued packaging and product innovation. In 1962, according to the company’s historical account, Baxters became the first company in the UK to introduce twist-top caps on 12-ounce preserve jars. The company subsequently expanded its range into new flavours and product categories while maintaining its association with Scottish ingredients and traditional recipes.

Beetroot represents another important part of Baxters’ history. The company began producing beetroot preserved in vinegar in the 1920s. Baxters later became the UK’s leading producer of beetroot products, making beetroot a key component of its portfolio alongside soups and preserves.

Unlike many large food brands, Baxters has retained a strong connection to its founding family. Gordon and Ena Baxter were particularly influential during the company’s post-war expansion. Their daughter, Audrey Baxter, subsequently became managing director in 1992, working alongside her brother Andrew Baxter to develop the company and expand its product range internationally. This succession helped maintain the company’s identity as a family business while it expanded globally.

Baxters celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2018, marking 150 years since George Baxter established his grocery shop in Fochabers. The anniversary reinforced one of the brand’s central themes: the transformation from a small Scottish village shop into an international food company while retaining its family heritage.

Today, Baxters’ best-known products are its soups, but the business encompasses a broader range of food categories.

Soups

Soup remains the brand’s signature category, featuring both traditional Scottish recipes and more contemporary or international flavours. Notable products include:

• Royal Game
• Scotch Broth
• Cock-a-Leekie
• Chicken Broth
• Potato & Leek
• Lentil & Bacon
• Highlanders Beef Broth
• Lobster Bisque

Baxters describes its soup-making tradition as dating back to 1929.

Preserves

The company’s origins are closely connected with jams and jellies. Margaret Baxter originally made preserves using locally available fruit, establishing a product tradition that continues to form part of the Baxters range.

Scottish Specialty Foods

Historically, the company has marketed a broad range of foods under the idea of Scottish specialty products, using the Baxters name to associate traditional Scottish cuisine with premium food and gift products.

Baxters’ brand identity is built around four primary themes:

• Scottish Heritage: The company emphasises its origins in Fochabers and its connection with Scottish ingredients and recipes.
• Family Ownership: The Baxter family has remained closely associated with the business for generations.
• Traditional Food: Recipes such as Scotch Broth, Cock-a-Leekie, and Royal Game connect the brand with traditional Scottish cuisine.
• Quality and Premium Positioning: Baxters has historically positioned itself above mass-market soup brands, emphasising ingredients, recipes, and craftsmanship.

The guiding phrase “Be different, be better” summarises this positioning.

Although strongly associated with its home in Fochabers, Baxters has grown into an international food manufacturing operation. Corporate history describes manufacturing and operational activities across multiple countries, reflecting the transition from a local Scottish grocery business into a global food company. The company states that its products can be found on shelves around the world while maintaining their Scottish identity.

Baxters is notable for representing an unusual combination of heritage food branding, family ownership, and international expansion. Rather than abandoning its Scottish origins as it grew, the company integrated them into its competitive identity. Traditional Scottish recipes, the Baxter family story, Fochabers, and Scottish ingredients became important elements of the brand’s marketing and product positioning.

Its development can be broadly summarised as:
Village grocery shop → preserves producer → canned-food manufacturer → Scottish soup specialist → premium food brand → international family-owned food business.

In Britain, Baxters is particularly recognisable for its tinned and packaged soups, often associated with hearty, traditional, and distinctly Scottish food. Its Royal Game soup is especially significant because it links the company’s modern product portfolio directly to Ethel Baxter’s original soup-making experiments of the 1920s.

For the company’s own history, corporate information, and current products, see the official website. 2 The company’s online shop also provides its historical timeline and current product range. 3

1. Our Company
2. Baxters official website
3. Baxters online shop for luxury Scottish soups, jams, gifts & hampers – Baxters Shop