They lapped up his ice cream, but did legions of sweet-toothed fans know the real Maitland Mackie and the influence this innovative business leader had on our lives?
Mr Mackie, head of Mackie’s of Scotland, has died at the age of 76.
His luxury ice cream brand was synonymous with the north-east, of course, and renowned across the UK, but there was so much more to him than this.
His sudden death after a tragically-short illness has shocked many as he was a huge personality across business, agriculture and education in the region. He was a popular figure with students as Rector of Aberdeen University.
He was a dairy farmer who made a huge success of switching to ice cream. We sometimes don’t appreciate the calculated gambles which innovators and entrepreneurs have to make, but where would we be without them?
There has to be someone at the cutting edge in all walks of life or we simply stand still. Mr Mackie was incapable of standing still – he always challenged the accepted or established way of doing things.
He was passionate about his many projects and his family said there was still so much he wanted to do.
He certainly knew his market and the power of his brand because after ice cream came a crisps range and chocolate was to follow.
Mr Mackie was no stranger to controversy and his intervention into the referendum debate and enthusiasm for windfarms brought criticism. He relished it because he believed passionately in these causes and that demanded respect, even if some people didn’t agree with him.
To young and old, he was an inspirational figure. It is hardly surprising, therefore, to discover that his favourite phrase was, “No change, no chance”.
