Mackie’s of Scotland defends packaging its chocolate with Union Flag after online anger
CONFECTIONERY giant Mackie’s of Scotland has defended packaging chocolate with Union Flags – after it came under fire from angry shoppers threatening to boycott the company.
Furious Scots voiced their outrage at Mackie’s of Scotland for putting a Union Flag on its dark chocolate instead of the Saltire – despite stating it had been made with Scottish mint.
But the firm hit back claiming the Union Flag was added after requests from oversees retailers and said it was “immensely proud” of its Scottish roots.
The debate was sparked on social media with one user saying: “What the hell is this about.
“Mackie’s of Scotland. So where’s the Saltire?”
Another said: “Well, I for one will no longer be buying Mackies products. Their loss”, while someone else commented: “If its got a Union Jack, put it back.
“The Saltire is the best of Scotland and if we all use this approach then these Union Jacks will come off our Scottish produce.”
And another person said: “Why on earth would you say ‘made in Scotland’ then stick a jack on it?
“May as well say made in the UK or stick the flag of Outer Mongolia on it... won’t be buying them again.”
Karin Hayhow, marketing director with Mackie’s of Scotland, said: “The Union Jack flag was added upon the request of our overseas retailer customers.
“They suggested this was colourful, eye-catching and made the bars instantly recognisable in their market place as an imported product to the USA. Our wider range of chocolate bars remain in our original design in our home markets.
“We’d certainly never try to disguise our Scottish heritage – it’s something that we’re proud of and one of the unique factors is that we make our chocolate on a Scottish family farm.
“All our packaging both at home and abroad includes our full brand name ‘Mackie’s of Scotland’.”
In 2017, a #Keepscotlandthebrand campaign was started to protest against the increasing number of Union flags that have replaced the Saltire on Scottish produce.