A royal visit to a renowned Aberdeenshire farm has placed a spotlight on Scottish innovation, sustainability, and premium food production.
Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal was welcomed to Westertown Farm near Inverurie, home to Mackie’s of Scotland, where she was shown the company’s pioneering dairy, ice cream, and chocolate operations.
The visit highlighted how a fifth-generation farm has evolved into a leader in sustainable food manufacturing, with a fully integrated process producing everything from renewable energy to ice cream on site.
Mac Mackie, Chairman of Mackie’s, said: “It was an honour to welcome Princess Anne and share how Mackie’s has grown from a traditional dairy farm into a household name known for quality, sustainability and innovation.”
The tour began at the factory where the princess met Doreen Harper and Lesley Skene, Mackie’s longest-serving team members – each of whom have been working at the family business for more than 40 years.
Her Royal Highness was then given a tour of the ice cream and chocolate production areas, including processing where the mix is made and packing where the tubs are filled and stacked for shipment around the world.
Visiting Mackie’s New Product Development kitchen, The Princess Royal sampled ice cream and chocolate made with fresh milk and cream from Mackie’s own dairy herd, before visiting its 350 strong herd of cows and meeting the farm personnel who oversee their robotic milking.
Stuart Common, Managing Director of Mackie’s, said: “It was a real privilege to meet Her Royal Highness and showcase the dedication that goes into every scoop we make.”
The tour concluded at the chocolate factory, where The Princess Royal unveiled a commemorative plaque. She also received a Mackie’s gift bag and flowers from a staff member’s daughter.
Mackie’s produces its award-winning ice cream using renewable energy generated on site via four wind turbines and a ten-acre solar farm, with every element of production, from milking to packaging, happening right here on the farm, underlining its commitment to quality.
Stuart added: “Our sky-to-scoop philosophy is at the core of everything we do – generating our own power, using milk from our own cows, and crafting every product on site. It allows us to guarantee the freshness, quality and sustainability that define the Mackie’s name.”
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With its ice cream stocked in more than a quarter of Scottish households and one in ten across the UK, Mackie’s continues to expand from its Aberdeenshire roots.
To find out more about Mackie’s, visit: www.mackies.co.uk
