Crème de la crème tech hailed by Mackie’s

Mackie’s of Scotland is creating what it says is one of Europe’s “greenest and most ambitious” refrigeration systems – as it bids to become the most eco-friendly company in Britain.

Services manager Kevin Jepson of the Aberdeenshire-based firm, which hails the 'state-of-the-art' project. Picture: Newsline Media 2020.

The Aberdeenshire-based firm is heralding the arrival of the first parts of its £4.5 million project that it says will increase and improve its ice cream production facility and reduce its carbon footprint.

The “state-of-the-art” project – which it says will be the first of its kind in Scotland – is being brought to life after Mackie’s secured about £2m from the Scottish Government’s Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme.

MD Mac Mackie said: “This freezer can be the final piece in the jigsaw to our farm becoming entirely self-sufficient in renewable energy.

“With our solar farm, wind turbines and existing biomass system powering 70 per cent of our annual energy needs, the next stage was to look at ways of slashing our energy requirements.

“We first set out on the journey towards this refrigeration back in 2018 – and are grateful that the support from the Scottish Government and the European Regional Development Fund will enable us to make this happen. It should create an exemplar low-carbon refrigeration plant for Scotland.”

Mackie’s said that unlike some systems that use environmentally damaging gases, the new system will run on ammonia, powered by hot water from a large biomass boiler.

Mackie added: “This is a truly exciting development for us. Being able to produce more, higher quality ice cream is just another bonus resulting from our investment in further green technology.”