A fourth-generation farmer, Taylor felt he was destined to take his place in the food and drink industry in one way or another. After cutting his teeth with Marks & Spencer on the retailer’s graduate scheme, he soon honed his sales and marketing skills across roles at Unilever and drinks brand Vita Coco.
In 2014, Taylor heeded the call to return to his routes with the family business, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge to help Taylor’s Snacks – then still part of its joint venture with Mackie’s – develop into a household name and ultimate split out into its own entity in 2023.
“As our business was growing and the Mackie’s of Scotland business was growing, we both were wanting to focus our attention on specific areas – Mackie’s on the dairy and chocolate side, we ventured into healthy snacking and popcorn and other product categories within snacking,” Taylor explained. “We felt that was the natural time for us to put our full attention into those areas.”
Huge investment
A huge investment had to be made into communicating the change of name from Mackie’s Crisps to ensure continuity with its existing customer base – a task that took nearly a year and a half to accomplish. Now, Taylor’s Snacks stands as its own separate entity, free to chart its own course.
“It’s been a tough road at times, but quite an exciting journey,” Taylor added. “To have the the brand under your own family name and to see it still having great success – and with lots of great opportunities out there still to come – that’s exciting.
“The team really bought into it – it was a very collaborative approach. It wasn’t like my father or nine of the directors just saying, ‘right, this is how we’re going to do it’. The whole team bought into it, fed into the process, and I think that’s made for a successful launch.”
Taylor attributes some of his success to a long line of entrepreneurial, business owning family members from whom he has learned a lot from – especially their mistakes and how best to avoid them.
Entrepreneurial spirit
Televisions shows like the BBC’s Dragons’ Den helped kindle that entrepreneurial spirit further, but Taylor cited Richard Branson, co-founder of the Virgin Group, as one of his biggest influences.
“I really like his leadership style,” said Taylor. “He’s quite laid back, fun, approachable – I think he cares clearly cares about his employees as well as the business. And he’s a master innovator without necessarily being the best commercial or financial mind out there – he’s admitted that when you watch his documentaries and autobiographies.
“But I think at the heart of it he’s always thinking of the future – future proofing his business – and always having the customer heart and. All while having some fun along the way, which I think you’ve got to do in what can be quite a stressful environment.”
Meanwhile, in the Food Manufacture Podcast’s penultimate edition of 2024, hosts William Dodds and Bethan Grylls spoke to Gerry Calabrese, the founder and CEO of premium drinks brand Hoxton Spirits.
