Administrators from FRP have completed the sale of Christies (Fochabers), a long-established nursery and tree growing business based at Arradoul, near Buckie in Moray, following a period of administration.
Graham Smith and Michelle Elliot were appointed Joint Administrators of the company on Wednesday 10 September 2025 and continued to trade the business as normal while a buyer was sought. They completed the sale of the business and assets to Alba Trees Limited, a specialist supplier of trees and hedging plants, on 3 February 2026.
For two centuries, Christie’s has been a trusted supplier to customers across Scotland. The family business invested significantly in its operations, including grading facilities, cold store refrigeration and modern agricultural equipment. The Arradoul site comprises a range of agricultural buildings, plant and machinery, tree stocks and associated land.
The company experienced increasing cash flow pressures in the period leading up to the appointment, which ultimately led to the decision to enter administration.
As part of the transaction, all 32 employees have transferred to the new owner, ensuring continuity for staff, customers and suppliers.
Alba Trees is the UK’s largest producer of cell-grown trees, based in East Lothian. The acquisition will allow Alba Trees to supply in-house bare root production alongside its existing cell-grown offering, broaden its presence in restocking, new woodland creation and hedging stock. Alba will have the capability to serve new customers while deepening relationships with existing clients and provide a more resilient, flexible one-stop solution across stock types and planting needs.
Graham Smith, Joint Administrator of Christies (Fochabers) and Director at FRP Advisory, said: “Christies is a well-regarded business with deep roots in the local area and a strong reputation for quality. By continuing to trade during the administration, we were able to preserve value and run a structured sale process, which has resulted in a positive outcome for all parties.
“We’re pleased to have secured a buyer in Alba Trees that has the expertise and scale to build on Christies’ heritage, and we would like to thank the staff and customers for their continued support throughout the process. We wish Alba Trees every success as it takes the business forward.”
The acquisition reinforces Alba Trees’ commitment to supporting the UK forest nursery sector and local rural economy in Moray and the North East of Scotland.
