Mackie’s Chairman Recognised in King’s Birthday Honours

We are delighted to share that our Chairman, Mac, has been awarded an OBE in The King’s Birthday Honours List 2026 in recognition of his services to farming, business innovation and sustainability.

The honour comes during a landmark year for Mackie’s as we celebrate 40 years of making ice cream.

Taking over from his father, Maitland Mackie, as Managing Director in 1998, Mac has overseen Mackie’s transition from a traditional dairy farm and milk business to a company that produced more than 15 million tubs of ice cream last year; while ensuring we remain committed to quality, sustainability and our farming heritage.

This recognition follows four decades of innovation and investment, during which Mackie’s has become a recognised leader in sustainable food production, Scotland’s best-selling ice cream brand, and the fastest-growing ice cream brand in the UK for four consecutive years.

Building on the foundations established by his father, Mac has championed our commitment to sustainability. Through investment in wind turbines and a solar farm, we now generate more than twice the amount of renewable energy that we consume.

Under Mac’s leadership, we have continued to adapt and invest in the future of our business. This has included modernising our farm to support increased production, introducing on-site packaging manufacturing to reduce transport miles, and investing in a low-carbon refrigeration system that both improves product quality and reduces emissions.

Mac said: “This honour is a tremendous privilege and one that reflects the efforts of many people over many years. What the business and farm have achieved has only been possible because of the dedication of our customers, colleagues and family, who have supported us throughout the journey.

“We have always believed in building a business for the long term, producing quality products, supporting our community and taking responsibility for the environment around us. I am proud of what has been achieved and excited about what comes next.”

Our reputation for innovation and sustainable farming was further highlighted last year when The Princess Royal visited our farm in Aberdeenshire to learn more about our approach to food production and renewable energy.

As we mark 40 years of making ice cream, we remain focused on the future, with continued investment in sustainability, product development and rural enterprise. Since becoming Chairman in 2023, Mac has focused on the long-term growth and resilience of the business, helping to shape the next chapter for Mackie’s. As our recent purchase of a 50,000 square-foot distribution site in Kintore earlier this year marking the beginning of an exciting new phase for the company.