Scottish food leaders plots bold expansion in Dubai
The move is a major milestone in the global growth strategy of Macphie, an internationally renowned ingredients manufacturer and ten-year accredited B-Corp company and is designed to more than double sales in the region over the next three years.
With a trading presence in the Middle East for more than 30 years, the family-owned Scottish firm has recognised the opportunity to dramatically scale its offer by investing in its own local facility.
Ed Widdowson, Chief Executive Officer of Macphie, said: 'We know from experience that our best results come when we engage directly with our customers in their home territory. The Dubai Customer Centre will allow us to do exactly that - and demonstrate how our ingredients can make a real difference in kitchens and bakeries.
'Our ambition is to go beyond supplying product. We want to be partners in innovation, helping our customers solve their biggest culinary and operational challenges. Dubai gives us the ideal platform to do just that.'
The new Customer Centre will mirror Macphie's proven UK model – already delivering success in Coventry and serve as a launchpad to deliver tailored, chef and baker-led food solutions to some of the world's most recognisable food brands.
Set within a 175 sq m state-of-the-art kitchen, the Dubai hub will offer a dedicated space where Macphie's team can demonstrate product performance in a customer-focused environment.
The space has been designed to reflect real-world kitchen conditions and will allow visiting chefs and bakers to experience how Macphie products can meet their specific needs. Visits will be strictly by appointment, ensuring a bespoke and collaborative experience for every client.
Macphie's Dubai base will support long-standing relationships with distribution partners in the region such as Modern Bakery in the UAE who have served as importers for the family business. However, its core aim is to own the customer journey more directly, building lasting connections with end users and increasing demand across its full product range.
Dr. Fawaz Al Bahri, CEO of Modern Bakery said: 'Our partnership with Macphie spans nearly three decades, built on shared values of quality, consistency and innovation.
'Their investment in a dedicated base in the Middle East is a welcome development and a clear sign of their long-term commitment to the region. We're excited about the opportunities this creates for deeper collaboration and mutual growth.'
The expansion will also cement Macphie's position as a global food solutions provider, with a three-year goal to dramatically grow sales in the region and provide a significant boost in profitability.
The £100,000 investment into the Customer Centre will allow Macphie's team of chefs and bakers to replicate customer menus using its ambient UHT sauces and sweet bakery solutions. These will be tailored to the challenges of the Middle Eastern environment, allowing for the region's high humidity and ensuring ingredient consistency.
The move complements Macphie's vision to be the go-to partner for food brands around the world. With its 'simply clever' approach, making life easier for chefs and bakers alike.
Ed added: 'There is a clear appetite for what we offer, products that deliver consistency, quality and ease of use and a team that works hand-in-hand with chefs and bakers to create outstanding dishes.'
Founded in 1928, Macphie employs over 250 people across its three UK sites and has grown from its roots as a bakery wholesaler into a trusted supplier to major international food brands.
The company focuses on delivering premium ready-to-use sauces, inclusions and bakery products to its restaurant, bakery, retail and food-to-go customers.
It was one of the first companies in Scotland to achieve B Corp certification in 2015, a status it has continually built upon, reinforcing its commitment to environmental and social excellence.
Its Glenbervie production facility in Aberdeenshire produces more renewable energy than it consumes, thanks to two large-scale wind turbines and an onsite biomass plant.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
23 minutes ago
- The National
Scottish Highland port £42.2million expansion to begin
The expanded facilities could attract projects with the potential to create up to 1500 jobs once the port is fully developed, HES has said. Kishorn Port was used in the 1970s for the construction of the Ninian Central oil production platform, which at the time was the world's largest floating concrete structure and has one of the largest openings of any dry dock facility in Europe. The investment forms part of the Scottish Government's commitment of up to £500m over five years to develop ports and offshore wind energy supply chain. Construction work on the project is scheduled to start on June 16, creating 84 jobs for up to 18 months. Investors hope the port will play a key role in delivery of offshore wind projects. READ MORE: Historic Aberdeen church building price slashed after failing to sell Investment of up to £24m in the project by regional development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) was announced by Scotland's Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, last week. Kishorn Port Limited (KPL) director, Alasdair Ferguson, said: 'With a quarry on-site, Kishorn Port is ideally suited for manufacturing of concrete floating offshore wind sub-structures. This Phase 1a expansion project will enable us to provide full integration, with laydown, marshalling and assembly in the long-term. 'The development opens Kishorn to new market opportunities and we are receiving strong expressions of interest to utilise the enlarged dry dock area, along with the additional laydown space, for floating offshore and decommissioning projects. As well as Scotland, our key target markets are the Celtic Sea and the Irish Sea.' Ferguson continued: 'Importantly, this project will provide the catalyst for the support and creation of jobs within Wester Ross and the wider Highlands, benefiting communities across the area. 'This is another very significant milestone in the continuing development of Kishorn Port and we are grateful to Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Government for their support.' The principal contractor for the project is RJ McLeod, based in Scotland, with offices in Dingwall and a long-established reputation in the Highlands. Supporting services are also being delivered by Scottish firms: marine consulting civil engineers, Wallace Stone; environmental consultants, Affric, and; project management consultants, Leapmoor.
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Edge Group Scotland becomes latest accredited Living Hours employer in Scotland
Edge Group Scotland is also proud to be one of only three social care providers in Scotland, and one of just ten across the UK, to hold both Living Wage and Living Hours accreditations. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... This distinction places Edge Group Scotland at the forefront of fair work in the social care sector, setting a leading example for how employers can prioritise staff wellbeing through both secure income and secure hours. Living Hours accreditation requires employers to pay the real Living Wage to all their employees over the age of 18 and commit to providing at least four weeks' notice for every shift, with guaranteed payment if shifts are cancelled within this notice period. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Living Hours employers also provide a guaranteed minimum of 16 hours every week (unless the worker requests otherwise), and a contract that accurately reflects hours worked. TeamEdge Celebrate Living Hours Accreditation Based in Musselburgh, Edge Group Scotland is a social care provider supporting autistic young adults and those with additional support needs across the Lothians. This announcement of their commitment to Living Hours further demonstrates the importance they place on setting standards for fair work. David Myers, Director of Operations & Finance, Edge Group Scotland, said: 'Our Living Hours accreditation demonstrates our continued commitment to doing right by our people. Fair pay and secure work are the foundations of a resilient and motivated team—and that's good for our team and the communities we serve.' One support worker with Edge Group Scotland, saidL 'In a previous role, I was on a zero-hours contract and shifts would come and go with no real notice. It made it really hard to plan anything or feel secure in the job. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "Since joining Edge, that's completely changed. Having guaranteed hours and proper notice takes a lot of stress off. Knowing where I stand each week makes a big difference—and it shows that Edge genuinely values the people who work here.' Christine McCaig, Projects Coordinator, Living Wage Scotland said: 'There are thousands of Scottish-based employers that are committed to paying at least the real Living Wage, and it's fantastic to see Edge Group Scotland take further steps to protect their workers from low pay and insecure work by becoming Living Hours accredited. "The values that led them to commit to the real Living Wage are the same values that have led to their expanded commitment to fair work at a time when workers need it most.' Research published by the Living Wage Foundation showed that over 9% of workers in Scotland are in insecure work and paid below the Living Wage. This is approximately 250,000 workers. The Living Hours standard was created to ensure that people have predictable working patterns and income, enabling them to better plan their lives.
STV News
3 hours ago
- STV News
SNP calls on Labour to match Scottish Government action on poverty
Almost two million families would be lifted out of poverty if Labour matched Scottish Government action on the issue, the SNP has claimed. Ahead of the UK spending review, the SNP asked the House of Commons Library to produce an independent analysis on the number of British children in poverty and the impact that replicating Scottish Government policies across the UK would have. The research showed 1.83 million families would be lifted out of poverty if policies were matched, including abolishing the two-child benefit cap, scrapping the bedroom tax and raising the child element of Universal Credit to match the Scottish child payment, according to the SNP. Statistics showed a third of British children were anticipated to be living in poverty by 2029-30 unless action was taken. Sir Keir Starmer was urged to act on the figures ahead of the UK spending review on Wednesday amid warnings the number of British children living in poverty is expected to rise to a record 4.6 million by 2029-30. Over the past decade, the number of children living in poverty has risen from 3.7 million (27%) in 2013/14 to 4.5 million (31%) in 2023/24, the SNP said. The SNP said Scotland is the only part of the UK where child poverty is falling, due to 'bold' policies such as the Scottish child payment of £27.15 per child, per week, paid in addition to other benefits. Replicating it UK-wide, by raising the child element of Universal Credit by the same amount, would lift 732,000 families out of poverty, including a further 38,000 families in Scotland, analysis showed. The SNP said it has also mitigated the bedroom tax and is in the process of ending the two-child benefit cap in Scotland. It said replicating the policies would lift a further 609,000 British families out of poverty, with the combined impact of introducing all three policies lifting 1.83 million families out of poverty, including a further 75,000 in Scotland. The UK Government delayed its child poverty taskforce review to the autumn and last year Labour MPs voted against abolishing the two-child benefit cap, in a motion tabled by the SNP. The Chancellor has previously rejected proposals to abolish the bedroom tax. The SNP said the UK Government's own impact analysis showed planned cuts to disability benefits will push 250,000 more people into poverty, including 50,000 children, with families losing out on £4,500 a year on average as a result of the cuts, branding it 'shameful'. SNP work and pensions spokeswoman Kirsty Blackman MP said: 'The evidence shows Keir Starmer's Labour Government is keeping almost two million families in poverty by failing to match SNP action across the UK. 'It's shameful that UK child poverty is rising to record levels under the Labour Government, which has pushed thousands more children into deprivation by imposing punitive welfare cuts. 'It's vital that the Prime Minister finally listens to families struggling with the soaring cost of living – and takes the long-overdue action needed to end child poverty at the UK spending review this week. 'That means abandoning the devastating austerity cuts to disabled families, matching the Scottish child payment UK-wide, abolishing the bedroom tax and scrapping the two-child limit and benefit cap. 'With 4.5 million children living in poverty in the UK, only bold and immediate action will do. 'The two-child benefit cap and bedroom tax must be abolished immediately, but that alone isn't enough to end child poverty. It's vital the Labour Government matches the Scottish child payment by raising the child element of Universal Credit across the UK. 'Scotland is the only part of the UK where child poverty is falling – and families receive the best cost-of-living help of anywhere in the UK. 'Westminster must match this action – or it will leave millions more children languishing in poverty.' A UK Government spokesperson said: 'We are determined to bring down child poverty and we have already expanded free breakfast clubs, increased the national minimum wage for those on the lowest incomes, uprated benefits in April and supported 700,000 of the poorest families by introducing a fair repayment rate on universal credit deductions. 'We will also publish an ambitious child poverty strategy later this year to ensure we deliver fully funded measures that tackle the structural and root causes of child poverty across the country.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
