Mackie’s of Scotland will supply 457 Sainsbury stores, it confirmed last week. The ice cream firm – which previously struggled to get English retailers to stock flavours other than its traditional real dairy ice cream – urged the public to try its honeycomb ice cream, so it can continue stocking south of the border.
The manufacturer’s commercial director Stuart Common said: “To secure this opportunity in Sainsbury is a huge achievement for us at Mackie’s; [one] that we are especially proud of as an independent company.
‘Demand for our product to grow’
“Hopefully this will introduce our ice cream to a new audience, which will allow demand for our product to grow as more people taste the differences in real dairy in ice cream.”
Mackie’s of Scotland annually sells about 1M litres of honeycomb ice cream in Scotland, it said. It had established itself as the company’s second bestseller, after its traditional real dairy ice cream.
All of the main ingredients for the honeycomb ice cream came from its Aberdeenshire farm. Milk came from its own herd of cows, while the honeycomb pieces and the ice cream tubs were made on site.
Powered by renewable energy
The entire manufacturing process was powered by the farm’s renewable energy. Its four wind turbines, solar farm and biomass plant provided the power.
The deal signified the ice cream firm’s second listing with Sainsbury – the UK’s second largest grocery retailer – after it had previously agreed to supply it with its traditional real dairy ice cream.
Meanwhile, Mackie’s invested £600,000 in its chocolate factory in 2014. It agreed subsequent supplier deals with Sainsbury and Tesco for its chocolate, while the Co-op began stocking the chocolate last year.
Mackie’s of Scotland deal with Sainsbury – at a glance
- Sainsbury to stock Mackie’s of Scotand’s honeycomb ice cream
- Will be stocked in 457 Sainsbury stores
- Retail value of the deal: £700,000