Mackie’s profits up 61% and revenue up to 16.7million

25/02/2021
L-R Karin, Mac and Kirstin Mackie at Westertown Farm

MACKIE’S of Scotland has recorded increased chocolate and take-home ice cream sales as it reinvests millions into its sustainability drive.

In the year ending 31 May 2020, the Aberdeenshire firm saw its revenue increase 1% to £16.7m and operating profits increasing 61% to £3.4m.

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Chocolate sales rose by 46% thanks to further supermarket listings.

As the family firm began construction of a £4.5m low-carbon refrigeration system that will become one of the most advanced in Europe, it also saw net assets increase by 18% to £18.59m.

Mac Mackie, managing director of the business and one of three sibling owners, said: “These stellar results are made all the more impressive when we consider that we were “competing” against the previous financial year, which accounted for the record heatwave summer of 2018.

“We broke all our own records then – and thought it would be very difficult to match that in the following year.

“With the first lockdown period in March, and the last quarter of the financial year, we initially witnessed a panic buying rush as the public filled freezers and baskets with staples – and not ice cream. For a few weeks, demand for take-home tubs of ice cream fell and our foodservice accounts sadly ground to a near halt, including temporary closure of our own 19.2 parlour in Aberdeen.

“However, we are very fortunate that ice cream sales quickly recovered, with increased demand as consumers seek a little luxury or pick me up treat while in lockdown at home.”

Mackie’s, which is based on the fourth-generation Westertown Farm in Rothienorman continues to invest profits into the long term sustainability of the business.

This coming year will see it complete the construction of its new low-carbon refrigeration system, the first of its kind in Scotland and one of just a handful across Europe to utilise new technology that uses biomass heat and ammonia – and is projected to reduce Mackie’s energy use by up to 80%.

 

 

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