A north-east ice-cream manufacturer is hoping to bring a sweet taste to Aberdeen’s new Marischal Square development – with the opening of its first parlour.
Rothienorman-based Mackie’s launched its inaugural venture into retailing yesterday with the official opening at the £107million city centre scheme.
Mackie’s join a four-star Residence Inn by Marriott as the second firm in the complex.
Several others have committed to moving into the development, including Costa, Prezzo and All Bar One, while Aberdeen Journals – publisher of both the Evening Express and the Press and Journal – is still in talks.
Named 19.2, the parlour is located exactly 19.2 miles from the Mackie’s Westertown family farm, where it produces its renowned ice cream and chocolate ranges.
Kirstin Mackie, development director at Mackie’s of Scotland, said: “We have been planning this for such a long time that to see the end result turn out to be everything we had envisioned, from the design concept to the layout, is fantastic.”
“Mackie’s started as a local family business and we aim to stay true to that with everything we do, so to have been able to work with Scottish suppliers and employ local people means a lot to us.”
In a nod to the farm, a lifesize fibre glass cow will also be displayed in the parlour. Created by Lofthus, an Aberdeen sign company, the heifer will be illuminated in bright colours to give the venue a quirky feel.
Marischal Square has proved contentious in some circles with questions over the financing and architecture of the scheme.
