The roots of ANM Group Ltd trace back to 1870 with the formation of the Aberdeen Cattle and Farm Produce Association Ltd. This organisation differed from other auction companies operating in the area at the time in that it was owned and controlled by farmers.

By a series of judicious takeovers in the early part of the 20th century, the company acquired auction marts throughout Aberdeenshire, Morayshire and Banffshire. In 1931, the company became the Central and Northern Farmers Co-operative Society and extended its range of services to the farming community to include farm auctions and valuations.

Two major acquisitions of rival Aberdeen-based auction companies - Alex Middleton and Sons in 1944 and Reith and Anderson Ltd in 1948 - gave the company control of more than 30 marts throughout the North-east of Scotland and the name was changed again to Aberdeen and Northern Marts.

Further acquisitions included Turriff in 1954, Wick and Thurso in 1962, Elgin in 1968 and Laurencekirk in 1986.

However, with increasing centralisation and better communications, smaller marts gradually became obsolete and today Aberdeen and Northern Marts operate from only three major auction centres serving the whole of the North and North-east.

A major milestone was the opening of the flagship Thainstone Centre in 1990.  Widely recognised as the most modern auction complex in Europe, Thainstone Centre was built at a cost of £6 million which was financed from the sale of valuable auction mart sites in the city of Aberdeen and a 30% EEC (now EU) grant.

Thainstone Centre has evolved as the agricultural centre of the North-east and in addition to its extensive auction business - both agricultural and commercial - is home to a range of businesses serving the North-east farming community, including SAC, NFUS, banks, accountancy and legal practices and animal feed and agricultural machinery supply companies. The regional headquarters of the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department (SERAD) is nearby.

The rationalisation of the auction mart business continued through the 1990's with the construction of Caithness Livestock Centre in 1992 and the redevelopment of Elgin Auction Centre in 1995.

Over the years, the company has branched into the farm and land market, through Aberdeen and Northern (Estates) Ltd, which is now one of the largest land and property agencies in the North-east, and meat processing through Aberdeen Meat Marketing Company Ltd (now Scotch Premier Meat Ltd) which built a new abattoir in Banchory in the mid-1960's.

The auction business has also diversified into the vehicle, furniture and antiques markets and pioneered the concept of the electronic auction with the formation of a new subsidiary, Electronic Auction Systems Europe Ltd (EASE) in 1989.

The increasing diversification of the business led to another name change in 1991 when the company became ANM Group Ltd, with Aberdeen and Northern Marts remaining as the core operating division.

This change reflects the growing importance to the Group of its other activities which, in addition to Aberdeen and Northern Marts, now include -

Scotch Premier Meat Ltd operating two meat processing plants in Inverurie serving high quality High Street butchers throughout the UK.

Highland Country Foods manufacturing breakfast, sandwich, & associated products

Charcuterie Continental supplying ham and beef for sandwiches through companies such as Greggs and Pret A Manger, as well as supplying pizza toppings

Yorkshire Premier Meat Ltd with two meat-cutting plants in Yorkshire supplying specialist cuts for the ready meals market

Aberdeen and Northern (Estates) Ltd, now diversifying into commercial and industrial property

Highland Cuisine Ltd, specialist caterers providing all catering services at Thainstone Centre and also specialising in the outdoor catering and corporate hospitality markets

The Barn and Bushel Function Suite, Thainstone Centre’s flagship restaurant

Thainstone Specialist Auctions operating weekly vehicle, furniture and antique sales at Thainstone Centre and commecial, industrial and domestic sales throughout the country

H and I Livestock Ltd providing a specialist marketing service for sheep and cattle from the Western Isles of Scotland

Thainstone Centre is the venue for a highly popular Sunday market and offers excellent facilities for conferences, seminars, trade exhibitions and a range of social events, including concerts, dinner-dances, barbecues and festivals.