Mackie’s appoints its first People and Development Manager

Premium ice cream brand Mackie’s of Scotland has expanded its HR team, appointing its first-ever People and Development Manager as it continues to focus in on its commitment to employee engagement and workforce development.

Jordan Noble (pictured above), 26, secured the role with the Aberdeenshire farm after spending five years with food manufacturing company, Joseph Robertson Limited, during which time she achieved the HR Rising Star Award at the HR Cherries Awards in 2021.

Jordan’s appointment comes after Mackie’s achieved record ice cream sales in the last financial year of £20m, with the firm looking to continue its growth and further grow its market share throughout the UK.

Jordan’s knowledge and experience in working for a fast-paced food manufacturer will see her bring many transferable skills and competencies to this new role with Mackie’s.

She said: “This is a very exciting opportunity which will enable me to make a positive impact on one of the country’s most recognisable brands.

I want to implement a tailored, dedicated People and Development strategy that can take the organisation and its employees forward in a way that our customers, clients and stakeholders will be proud of, whilst considering the wider community and our social and economic impacts on the region.”

She added: “Mackie’s is a very progressive business and is committed to helping me achieve my goals to benefit the wider team at the farm. From employee voice committees and surveys to training and reward recognition programmes, there are many things I’m excited to implement here, at a business which is set up for ambitious growth both in its role and responsibilities as an employer and as a trusted brand for its growing customer base.”

Mackie’s places great emphasis on its employee engagement and recently celebrated the long-term service of four of its employees: Bill Thain, Heather Bowie, Nikki Nangle and Lesley Skene, who hold a combined 123 years of experience at the family-run business.

Already a long-standing Living Wage Employer, last year Mackie’s bolstered its employee rewards by updating and extending its long-service reward scheme.

Jordan’s appointment is another addition to the Mackie’s team, which now has more than 100 employees and a 55% female workforce gender ratio – a rarity for a rural manufacturing company.

Stuart Common, Managing Director of Mackie’s, said: “With family values at the core of this business, we place a great emphasis on our work culture at the farm, and pride ourselves on being a forward-thinking and inclusive workplace.

Jordan’s appointment marks a first for Mackie’s, and the experience she will bring to this new People and Development Manager Role will be an invaluable asset to us.”

The role’s creation follows a period of sustained growth for Mackie’s, which has climbed to become the fifth biggest food and drink brand in Scotland (Kantar Worldpanel) while reaching a record market share of 11% south of the border.

It coincides with the farm’s recent listing success in major supermarkets such as Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Morrisons, which have all contributed led to Mackie’s achieving a record total of ice cream sales in the previous financial year.

Mackie’s growth and core values was a major draw for Jordan, she said: “Everybody knows the well-loved Mackie’s Scottish brand, which made it an easy and exciting decision to join and be a part of building when I was approached for the role.

The collective family ethos is the big thing I have noticed since arriving at the farm, for such a recognised brand everyone is down-to-earth, friendly, and all pulling in the same direction. I’m aligned with the values the brand stands for, and look forward to many successful years with the company.”

Mackie’s is one of the UK’s top ice cream brands, with its one litre Traditional tub being one of the best-selling premium ice cream products in the UK.

The company’s ice cream is made from ‘sky to scoop’, with wind and sun-powered renewable energy powering the dairy where it makes its ice cream using fresh milk and cream from its own herd.

All of Mackie’s ice cream is still made on the family farm, where the quality of the products remains very high, with a cache of awards to show for them this year alone, including two 2-star Great Taste awards for both its newest and oldest ice cream flavours (Toffee Fudge and Traditional).