Major site acquisition enables more capacity in North-East

A MAJOR new site acquisition is set to unlock fresh opportunities for us as we look ahead to the next chapter here at Mackie’s.

The purchase of a 50,000-square-foot distribution facility in Kintore, Aberdeenshire, marks a significant step in our long-term plans, creating new capacity while reinforcing our commitment to the North-east economy and community.

The move comes as we celebrate 40 years in operation, having grown from a small family farm into the UK’s fastest-growing premium ice cream brand, while remaining true to our founding values.

Stuart Common, Managing Director at Mackie’s, said:

“This is an exciting move that strengthens our foundations and gives us greater control over how we get our products to customers efficiently and, importantly, sustainably, from right here in Aberdeenshire.”

Located just 15 minutes from our family farm, the Kintore site will serve as a key distribution hub, allowing us to manage more of our operations from the North-east while reducing unnecessary food miles.

The investment addresses long-standing logistical challenges we have faced as a business. Previously, products destined for Scottish customers were required to travel significantly longer routes through third-party distribution networks.

The new facility means we will be able to store and dispatch products closer to home, cutting journey distances by hundreds of miles in some cases and delivering clear gains in both efficiency and sustainability.

Stuart added:

“This investment is a clear signal of intent and is about building a business with the capacity to keep growing, reach more customers and do so in a way that stays true to our green values.

“By bringing more of our distribution under our control here in the North-east, we can do more locally, keep skills and expertise in the region, and significantly reduce the distance our products travel — something that really matters to us both commercially and from a sustainability point of view.”

Executive Chairman Maitland (Mac) Mackie added:

“This is a truly pivotal moment in our history. After 40 years of building this business as a family, this marks an important and exciting next step for us.

“This investment is a physical demonstration of how we’re backing the business, supporting the area we call home, and making sure we’re in a strong position for the next generation.”

At Mackie’s, we recently reported our highest-ever turnover of £24.8 million, representing an 11% year-on-year increase, alongside a 3% rise in profits for the financial year ending May 2025.

This growth has been driven by expanding UK distribution and increasing brand awareness, with products reaching an additional 2,110 retail shelves across major supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Asda.

We have also attracted more than 300,000 new buyers over the past year, and Mackie’s is now purchased by more than a quarter of households in Scotland, underlining our strong and growing market position.

Alongside product excellence, sustainability remains central to everything we do, with investments in wind turbines, solar energy and low-carbon refrigeration systems enabling us to generate more energy than we consume.

The Kintore site is expected to complement this approach, with potential for further sustainability measures, including renewable energy integration, as part of future development plans.

The acquisition also reinforces our deep-rooted presence in Aberdeenshire, where we have played an active role as an employer and contributor to the local economy for four decades.

Stuart said:

“Reinvesting in Aberdeenshire is hugely important to us because it is where the business began and where our roots remain today. Everything we do is grounded in that farming heritage, and the community has been tremendous in supporting us over the last four decades.

“We’re excited to have this opportunity to create even more possibilities locally by supporting jobs, keeping skills in the North-east and contributing to the wider economy and community here.”

Looking ahead, we remain focused on building resilience and capacity, ensuring we can continue to innovate in both sustainability and product development while meeting growing demand across the UK and international markets.