One of the north-east’s best known ice-cream makers enjoyed a boost in sales due to balmy summer weather – despite facing a sad year clouded by the loss of the husband and wife team that led the firm, Maitland and Halldis Mackie.
Mackie’s – now led by Mr and Mrs Mackie’s three grown children – paid tribute to their parents in the company’s latest set of accounts filed at Companies House.
In the report, the company said: “2014 was a sad year with the loss of Maitland Mackie, and his wife, Halldis. Maitland and Halldis were directors, chairman, and above all, father and mother to the current Mackie family directors. They will be greatly missed by the whole company.”
The firm added that volume sales of its ice cream, which is produced at family’s 1,600 acre Westertown Farm, near Rothienorman in Aberdeenshire, grew 6% in 2013 due to “the warmest and sunniest summer since 2006”. This led to a 10% increase in revenues, with turnover reaching £11.1million in the year to the end of May 2014.
Last year the firm also launched a range of chocolate bars. In the accounts Mackie’s said the range was being sold in two major retailers as well as some smaller outlets.
“The successful launch of our chocolate bar range is being followed up with a new production facility being installed at Westertown to ensure continued supply for the home and export markets,” the company added.
The firm is now run by Mackie family members Maitland “Mac” Mackie, Kirsten Mackie and Karin Hayhow, alongside finance director Gerry Stephens. As well as its ice cream business it has stakes in two wind farms and a 25% stake in Mackies at Taypack, which makes crisps.
The company employed 63 people during the period, down slightly from 69 in the prior year.
Pre-tax profits at the firm grew 45% to £860,566 in the year.
“The company plans to build on being Scotland’s favourite ice cream and continue to develop new products and markets with the brand whilse improving efficiency and returns from all areas of the business,” the firm said.
Maitland Mackie died in July last year aged 76 just three months after Halldis, who was also 76.