Shortbread supplier Paterson Arran is to restructure its business following the retirement of owners Alan Hardie and Ian Appleton.

The changes will see managing director Hardie and finance director Appleton move to non-executive roles within the business and serve on a new supervisory board.

Operations director Sean Austin will succeed Hardie as managing director, while marketing director Allan Miller will become the commercial director. They will both join Hardie and Appleton on the supervisory board.

Hardie and Appleton announced in March 2016 that they were to sell the business and retire after 21 years in charge.

“Our business has a track record of profitable growth in challenging times,” said Hardie. “While there are indeed many future challenges, I am confident these changes will be the springboard for future growth.”

Paterson’s is Britain’s leading shortbread brand with a 48.7% share of the branded shortbread market (Kantar Worldpanel). Paterson Arran is a privately owned Scottish company, operating from two sites: the Royal Burgh Bakery in Livingston, West Lothian, and the Old Mill, Lamlash, Isle of Arran.