ICE cream maker Mackie’s of Scotland has achieved its highest ever UK market share after adding almost half a million customers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The breakthrough came despite a tough time in the ice cream sector, as the overall market contracted by 7.4% over the same period.

Record increases in the cost of ingredients, haulage, feed and fertiliser have combined to make the outlook a challenging and unpredictable one for Scotland’s most popular ice cream company.

Mackie’s says the growth of UK customers outwith its traditional Scottish market and its early adoption of renewable energy has helped it offset rising cost pressures and to build for the future.

Kantar Worldpanel reported that the ice cream maker’s customer numbers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland climbed from 939,000 in 2021 to 1,424,000 in 2022.

Executive Chairman and one of three family owners at Mackie’s, Mac Mackie, said: “We are putting in place the foundations to be a bigger business and one that is even better equipped for growth in the years ahead.

“It’s been a pivotal year in our history. We witnessed this encouraging step change in our sales and cut-through south of the border, predominantly as a result of us winning and building on second-line listings for our honeycomb ice cream with a number of supermarkets, including Sainsbury’s.

“For a long time, it’s been the case that our Scottish customers have been able to choose from a wide range of our ice cream flavours, but those in the rest of the UK could typically only reliably get their hands on our best-selling Traditional flavoured real dairy ice cream. We’re thrilled to be reaching new customers and determined to build on the success of these new listings."

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The Aberdeenshire firm posted revenue of £17.7 million and profit before tax of £1.7 million according to annual accounts to the year ending 31 May 2022. While down 59% on the record highs of the previous year (£4.1 million), this profit represents a positive return above initial forecasts. Revenue has since rebounded due to strong sales, with the calendar year rivalling previous record levels of turnover, though profit is forecast to fall further in light of steep cost increases.

The significant wider ice cream market shrinkage over the same period has been attributed to increases in cost pressures and a market rebound following surging take-home ice cream sales during the pandemic.

Newly appointed managing director, Stuart Common, commented: “Like all businesses we’re facing major challenges resulting from rising costs throughout our operations which has led to careful negotiations with our trade customers while we do our best to manage and absorb increases that may otherwise be passed on to the wider public.

“Despite the restrictions associated with the pandemic, we have maintained export sales of over £2 million, which includes increased export to the US, which poses an exciting opportunity for growth."