Family ice cream brand strengthens sales team after growth – Aberdeen Business News

Britain’s fastest growing premium ice cream brand1 has strengthened its sales team in a bid to meet demand for its products in the UK and beyond.

The family-owned business, which has seen more than 1,000 additional UK stores stock new flavors this calendar year alone, has added three new members to its sales team, with the aim of leveraging their experience and continuing the growth of the business.

One of the three new starts is Will Dixon, 35, who will lead Mackie’s of Scotland’s sales team as the company’s Head of Sales.

Dixon joins Mackie’s with a wealth of experience in food and drink sales, including stints at global spirits brand Pernod Ricard and craft beer brand Northern Monk. During his time at Northern Monk, Dixon played a role in increasing UK retail distribution by almost 50%, growing it from the fifth largest craft beer brand in the UK to the fourth.

Based in Warrington, Cheshire, Dixon will become one of the Scottish farm company’s only employees in England, highlighting the company’s drive and ambition to expand sales south of the border.

Will said: “I have been following Mackie’s progress over the last few years and when I heard about the role I jumped at the opportunity to be part of their next chapter of growth and success. It also helps that I’ve been a big fan of Mackie’s products ever since I heard about them from my father-in-law, who doesn’t eat any other kind of ice cream.

“I plan to combine what I have learned from my experience in sales strategy at both a global brand and a challenger brand to further enhance Mackie’s strength in the Scottish heartland while winning new listings and consumers south of the border .

“Essentially, my focus is to help replicate Scotland’s love for Mackie’s ice cream across the rest of the UK, to help the company achieve its ambitious growth plans – and to help consumers get their hands on better ice cream!”

Mackie’s has also appointed two new National Account Managers, Kirsten Blockley and Iain Thomas, who between them bring 20 years of experience in the food and drink sector to the farm.

Thomas has worked for years at Froneri, the largest ice cream manufacturer in Europe, which will be of great value to him in the growth efforts of the sales team.

Stuart Common, Managing Director of Mackie’s of Scotland, said: “We have seen incredible growth over the last 18 months and we are pleased to see our delicious products reaching more consumers than ever.

“Will’s appointment as head of sales comes at a very important time for Mackie’s as we reach more consumers south of the border than ever before as we strive to achieve more.

“I am confident that Will’s clear focus on our business goals, and the support he will receive from Kirsten and Iain in achieving them, heralds the start of a very exciting period at Mackie’s.”

As the UK’s largest independent ice cream manufacturer and one of the country’s top ice cream brands, Mackie’s ice cream is made with fresh milk and cream from their fifth generation family dairy farm, Westertown, near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire.

Mackie’s places great emphasis on the involvement of its employees; several employees have worked on the farm for more than 40 years.

For more information about Mackie’s, please visit: www.mackies.co.uk