A strong Scottish identity and trust from consumers keeps Mackie’s of Scotland a key choice for many
DESPITE rising costs and financial concerns for many, plenty of Scottish consumers still found a way to indulge their sweet tooth with some of their favourite ice cream this year.
Marking the highest ranked ice cream brand once again, Mackie’s of Scotland has continued to go from strength to strength across the market.
Following a changing of the guard at the start of the year for the Aberdeenshire brand, with Stuart Common taking over the role of managing director from Mac Mackie, Mackie’s ambitious growth throughout 2023 has brought about plenty of success.
Mackie’s achieved record ice cream sales of more than £20million during the 2022-23 financial year following investment into the brand and a greater presence south of the border, which has helped its ice cream sales more than double over the course of the last 10 years.
New boss Common said: “It is an honour for Mackie’s to again be recognised as one of the top food and drink brands in the country.
“This acknowledgement and achievement reflects years of hard work building a Scottish company that Mackie’s consumers love and trust.
“We’re proud to be considered alongside the best homegrown brands, also representing quality and heritage.”
The manufacturer, which also makes chocolate, offers a core ice cream range that covers classic flavours and more creative options under its wing, with about 12 ice cream varieties running at a time.
The most recent of these came in May of this year, when Mackie’s launched its new Toffee Fudge ice cream flavour, aiming to cater to Scottish consumers that were looking for more indulgent options from the freezer.
And it’s these flavours that resonate with Mackie’s customers, reckons the managing director.
He said: “We stick to our Scottish identity through our flavours, branding and company culture – which resonates with shoppers.
“Making as much as we can ourselves, including packaging, sauces, tubs, energy and, of course, ice cream, while communicating honestly with our consumers resonates well with our Scottish heartland.”
Evidently this is something that works for the brand as, if the placement in the top 10 wasn’t evidence enough, Mackie’s picked up several awards over the course of 2023, including one and two-star ratings at the Great Taste Awards, as well as the sustainability award at the Scotland Food and Drink Excellence Awards.
And when something isn’t broke, you don’t fix it – and that seems to be the plan for Mackie’s in 2024.
Common said: “In the next 12 months, we hope to continue to expand our reach beyond Scotland and continue our efforts landing listings across the UK.
“Our mission remains providing high-quality, ethical treats that bring joy to consumers while honouring our heritage. We will continue to invest into the farm, too, looking at ways we can be more sustainable.”
