Latest news with #HazelRickett
The Herald Scotland
11-08-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Ice cream Mackie's of Scotland reports record month in July
Family-owned Mackie's revealed it sold more than 1.9 million litres of ice cream over the month as Scotland regularly basked in temperatures in the low 20s. The brand's sizzling summer was helped by expanded supermarket listings, with increased availability of its Traditional variety in Tesco and Morrisons, while its Raspberry Ripple flavour secured a permanent place in Sainsbury's Local outlets. Mackie's, which is produced on the eponymous family farm in Aberdeenshire, said it was boosted by the roll-out of the brand's biggest-ever outdoor marketing campaign. The Full Cream Ahead series, which is focused on recipes that prioritise full cream and milk, has featured on billboard and posters across parts of England, allowing Mackie's to introduce itself to more households south of the Border. Read more: Stuart Common, managing director of Mackie's, said: 'The month of July saw impressive results, selling over 1,900,000 litres of ice cream, our best results in the history of the company. That's enough ice cream to fill over 15,000 bathtubs or our local Inverurie swimming pool three times over. 'These results would not have been possible without the hard work of everyone at Mackie's. Staff have volunteered to work extra shifts to keep up with demand, we have also created new summer roles and increased the number in our production team. We are consistently working hard at increasing standards and the July sales are testament to this.' Mr Common added: 'We're investing more than ever in letting people know about Mackie's. The marketing campaign is about making a bold statement, but also about being proud of our roots, our values, and the fact that we make our ice cream right here on the family farm.' Mackie's revealed that the farm's ice cream parlour near Inverurie, Mackie's 19.2, also enjoyed record-breaking period sales in July as the internationally renowned Tall Ships Festival was held in Aberdeen, selling over 18,000 scoops of 'nautical-inspired' treats. The company's fifth-generation family dairy farm at Westertown is powered by its own renewable energy installations, including wind turbines, a 10-acre solar farm and a low-carbon refrigeration system, allowing the farm to produce twice as much energy as it consumes. Scotland small-group tours firm Rabbie's eyes global growth Hazel Rickett, who heads Rabbie's Tours, reveals she would like to see the Scottish company's small-group tours running all over the world. The trained botanist joined Rabbie's, which this year received the King's Award for Enterprise in International Trade, as a driver guide. Rabbie's, which has an annual turnover of £30 million and employs 297 people, currently runs tours in Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, Spain and Portugal as well as in the UK. Read Ian McConnell's Q&A with Hazel Rickett here SNP's Kate Forbes leaves big gap to fill on Scottish economy Last week was one that began with a big surprise, continuing what has been a very busy summer on the news front. The announcement from Kate Forbes, who has had a very high profile since being appointed as Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic in May last year, that she would not be standing at next year's Holyrood election came as a bolt from the blue. (Image: Newsquest) The MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch declared she did not want to 'miss any more of the precious early years of family life'. While the decision is entirely understandable, there is no doubting Ms Forbes will be a major loss to the SNP. Read Ian McConnell's Business Editor's newsletter in full here
The Herald Scotland
09-08-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Scotland small-group tours firm Rabbie's eyes global growth
Hazel Rickett Job title: CEO at Rabbie's Tours. What is your business called? Rabbie's Tours Where is it based? Headquarters in Edinburgh. Departure points across the UK and Europe including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Aviemore, Aberdeen, Dublin, Killarney, London, Bristol, Bath, Manchester, Rome, Milan, Catania, Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon and Zurich. What does it produce/do? Small group tours guided by story tellers To whom does it sell? Our typical guest is curious and open-minded, they don't just want to see a place - they want to understand it, meet the people, hear their stories, and come home with experiences worth sharing. Eighty percent of our guests are international and mainly from North America, Australia and Europe. What is its turnover? Turning over approximately £30 million a year. How many employees? 297 employees. What attracted you to your current role? I've always loved travel, and being part of a team that's passionate about creating amazing experiences just felt like the perfect fit. What were you doing before? I am a trained botanist so don't ask me how I ended up as a Rabbie's driver guide! I was one of the first driver guides hired at Rabbie's, which I think has helped me to reach the point I am at today. Before that I had been travelling and working in various places around the world from a cloud forest in Costa Rica to an insurance firm in Australia! What do you least enjoy? Some of the admin - no surprise there. But even that can be weirdly rewarding sometimes! What do you consider to be the main successes of the business? Definitely our tours, our team, and the positive culture we've built. There's a real pride in how we look after each other, our communities and our customers. What are your ambitions for the firm? I'd love to see Rabbie's small-group tours running all over the world, helping people discover the hidden gems and local stories that make travel so special. What are the challenges facing the sector and market, and what could be done to overcome or address these? I'd love to have a magic wand and make the world a more peaceful place. Global uncertainty can impact travel, but all we can do is stay adaptable, keep looking after our people and customers, and focus on what we do best. Read more What single thing would most help? Having that magic wand! But short of that, a bit more certainty in the world wouldn't go amiss, it'd make planning (and sleeping!) a whole lot easier. What is the most valuable lesson you have learned? Be true to yourself, trust your instincts, and stick to your values. What was your best moment? Taking my first tour and seeing that the customers had actually enjoyed it! And being asked by Robin [Worsnop], the founder, to lead the company in 2013 was a real honour. What has been your most challenging moment in life or business? Navigating the company through the Covid pandemic. How do you relax? I run, garden, swim in the sea, and spend time with friends and family. What phrase or quotation has inspired you the most? Live for the day! What is the best book (fiction or non-fiction) you have ever read? Why is it the best? The Nightingale. It's beautifully written and a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience of women in the toughest of times. Where do you find yourself most at ease? When I'm out in nature or surrounded by friends and family. If you weren't in your current role, what job would you most fancy? Something outdoors and adventurous - anything that lets me explore new places and meet interesting people. What countries have you most enjoyed travelling to, for business or leisure, and why? I loved travelling around South and Central America, the wildlife, scenery, and culture are fascinating. And the beaches in India and Thailand are absolutely breathtaking.
