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Aberdeenshire food companies announce new partnership


By Kyle Ritchie

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Two Scottish family businesses are celebrating the great taste of the north-east’s food scene with a new partnership.

Mackie’s of Scotland has secured new listings with online retail butcher Donald Russell which will see its Traditional, Honeycomb and Strawberry Swirl one litre ice cream tubs stocked on the site.

Donald Russell has been impressed by the popularity of the new products, running out of their initial order of 300 tubs in the first three days of listing on the site – their much increased second order accounted for this and was for 300 cases rather than tubs.

Sales and marketing director at Mackie’s of Scotland, Mac Mackie and chief executive officer at Donald Russell, Kenneth Clow.
Sales and marketing director at Mackie’s of Scotland, Mac Mackie and chief executive officer at Donald Russell, Kenneth Clow.

Stuart Common, sales and marketing director at Mackie’s of Scotland, said: “Working alongside one of the north-east’s largest food outlets is a privilege and something we’re extremely proud of.

"Both brands are focussed on quality – and it’s great to team up with a company so close by.

“The partnership has very exciting potential because of Donald Russell’s well-established ability to get frozen goods straight to their customers’ doors across the whole of the UK. Mackie’s fans across the UK will undoubtedly welcome the availability of this service.

“Who knows, in future it could be a great way of getting Mackie’s wider range of ice cream flavours into the homes – and mouths – of those south of the border.

For now, we are just excited to see how well Traditional, Honeycomb and Strawberry Swirl are proving with Donald Russell’s customers.”

With the Mackie’s farm being only 10 miles from Inverurie-based Donald Russell, and both businesses being focussed on quality the partnership seems a natural fit.

Kenneth Clow, chief executive officer at Donald Russell, said: “Since becoming CEO in March this year, and with the north-east food and drink scene thriving so successfully, I was really interested in working with more local businesses across our different online categories to celebrate this.

“As a fellow family business based just down the road, Mackie’s of Scotland immediately stood out as a great partnership fit alongside their impressive credentials of being one of the country’s most loved brands and known-for-quality produce.

“Within the first week of stocking the three flavours, Honeycomb has been the best seller which our consumers seem to love.

“Our second order, a week after our first, saw a six-fold increase in size to account for the ice cream’s popularity, which is really encouraging.

“Both businesses are set to benefit from the partnership as each is focused on sustainable growth – the question really is what’s next after we get the first months under our belt.”

Mackie’s of Scotland produces luxury ice cream at its fifth generation Aberdeenshire farm from “sky to scoop”, with wind and sun-powered renewable energy powering the dairy where it makes its ice cream using fresh milk and cream from its own herd.

The brand claimed a spot in Scotland’s top five food brands this year, according to Kantar data, after securing multiple breakthrough listings across the UK.


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