Jam and marmalade manufacturer to spread further with £ 4m investment

● Sum will expand business premises with new dedicated distribution centre

Scotland’ s largest producer of marmalade and jam is to undergo a £ 3.8 million expansion that will see its business premises grow by 50 per cent.

Arbroath-based Mack ays said thatas of January, the investment will enable it to introduce new product lines into its factory as well as create a dedicated distribution cen- t re and co - packaging f acil i - ty. The £ 3m investment from Mackays i s being topp ed up with an £ 875,000 Europ ean Grant and will cover the lease, fit- out and purchase of new equipment.

The new distribution facility will enable the firm to service five trucks at a time, accelerating the supply- chain process.

Managing director Mar tin Grant s ai d: “The expansion announcement rounds off a fantastic year for Mackays.

“With our business turnover up 7 per cent, which includes an increase of 35 per cent in export, we are in great shape and looking forward with excitement to the year ahead.

“In 1995 we were filling just 10,000 jars a year which – compared to to day’s 25 million – demonstrates the demand for Mackays Dundee Orange Marmalade and jams.”

Grant, who oversees a workforce of 180, added :“The investment will enable us to continue to meet this demand while continuing to make our productsin the traditional way using steam- heated cop - per- bottomed pans for a truly authentic taste.”

The firm – whose products cover nine marmalades, the same number of pre serves, two curds as well as chutneys and other condiments – was founded in 1938 and supplied the fillings for United Biscuit’s jam rings.

It was acquired from United Biscuits in 1995 by Grant’s father Paul and transformed into a household name marmalade and preserves brand.

Now, 40 per cent of its sales come from overseas, and the business exports to 80 territories around the world, with pre serves made traditionally by producing small, authentic batches.

All of its products are made using steam- heated copper- bottomed pans and use a rolling boil method.

The company said in its 2016 results, published last month, that turnover in the year jumped by 6.6 per cent from 2015 to £ 18.6m, with pre - tax profit falling to £ 654,377 from £ 865,915.

Looking ahead, the firm at the time saw global markets as still difficult.

However, the board said it believed in its strategy, including a long- term programme of capital investment, “leaves the company well- placed to meet the challenges of the current economic environment”.