Mackays

What Mackays does

Mackays Limited is a privately held Scottish preserves manufacturer headquartered in Arbroath, founded in 1938 by the Mackay brothers in Carnoustie and acquired by Paul Grant in 1995. The company manufactures organic marmalades, fruit preserves, curds, and chutneys using traditional steam-heated copper pans with a rolling-boil method — a process anchored by 22 copper pans in an 80,000-square-foot facility opened in 2008. Its product portfolio spans preserves (Scottish raspberry, strawberry, blueberry & blackcurrant, rhubarb & ginger, bramble), marmalades including the historic Dundee Marmalade (dating to 1797), Seville and vintage orange variants, chutneys, and gift hampers.

The business operates a multi-channel go-to-market: distribution through major UK supermarkets accounts for primary retail volume, a direct-to-consumer e-commerce site (mackays.com) serves UK consumers with mainland delivery, an international export operation reaches 80+ countries (approximately 30% of turnover, first seeded by the 1996 Canadian launch), and a foodservice vertical opened via 2021 packaging and manufacturing investments. Pricing is unit-based at £1.50-£2.30 per individual jar, with gift hampers and mini-sets priced up to £16. Mackays is the 3rd largest UK preserve brand and reported FY2025 turnover of £17.45m (up from £17.34m) with pre-tax losses of £656,495, a 46% improvement year-on-year. The company remains under Grant-family ownership, led by Managing Director Martin Grant since 2011.

Name

Mackays

Legal name

Mackays Limited

Website

https://mackays.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Mackays is a Scottish preserves manufacturer founded in 1938, producing copper-pan marmalades, jams, curds, and chutneys distributed through UK supermarkets, DTC e-commerce, foodservice, and exports to 80+ countries, serving as the UK's third-largest preserve brand with £17.45m in FY2025 revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Preserves and Marmalades

NAICS

Specialty Food Retailers (4452), All Other Specialty Food Retailers (445298)

SIC

Canned, Fruits, Veg, Preserves, Jams & Jellies (2033), Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Bulk & Pantry Staples Retail (CRAHAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Specialty Food Gift Shops & Hampers (CRAHAGAN)

Keywords

• Scottish preserves manufacturing
• Artisan marmalade production
• Fruit jam and curd
• Chutney and condiments
• Gift hamper collections

Headquarters

HQ city

Arbroath

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Direct sales of preserves, marmalades, chutneys, and curds through multiple channels including direct-to-consumer e-commerce and retail distribution.
2. Export Sales: International sales to over 80 countries representing approximately 30% of total turnover.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mackays manufactures and sells Scottish preserves, marmalades, chutneys, fruit curds, and gift hampers using traditional copper-pan methods. Products are sold direct-to-consumer via the company's e-commerce site, through major UK supermarkets, and exported to over 80 countries, with a growing foodservice supply channel.

Product overview

Mackays is a Scottish preserves manufacturer offering a diverse portfolio of products across five main categories: Preserves (fruit jams made with Scottish berries), Marmalades (citrus spreads including the historic Dundee Marmalade dating to 1797), Chutneys (savorycondiments made in small batches), Curds (creamy egg and butter spreads), and Gift Hampers (pre-selected and pick-and-mix collections). The products are crafted using traditional methods in copper pans. The company operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform where customers can purchase individual jars or curated gift selections.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scottish Preserves (Raspberry, Strawberry, Blueberry & Blackcurrant, Rhubarb & Ginger, Seedless Bramble, Champagne variants) Fruit jams made with Scottish-grown berries including raspberry, strawberry, blueberry & blackcurrant, rhubarb & ginger, seedless bramble, and luxury variants such as Strawberry Preserve with Champagne. Sold in jars to consumers via UK supermarkets and the Mackays e-commerce site, used as breakfast spreads and baking ingredients.
• Marmalades (Dundee Marmalade, Seville Orange, Vintage, Three Fruit, Sweet Navelina, Orange/Lemon & Ginger, Lime & Lemon, Whisky and Champagne variants, Thick-Cut, Shredless) Citrus-based spreads manufactured in copper pans, including the original Dundee Marmalade first created in 1797. Range covers Seville Orange, Vintage (thick-cut), Three Fruit, Sweet Navelina, Orange/Lemon & Ginger, Lime & Lemon, Orange Marmalade with Whisky, Orange Marmalade with Champagne, Thick-Cut, and Shredless variants. Targeted at breakfast consumers and gift purchasers via UK supermarkets, e-commerce, and export.
• Chutneys (Sweet Beetroot & Red Onion, Caramelised Red Onion, Sundried Tomato & Smoked Chilli, Red Pepper & Smoked Paprika, Chilli Jam)

Quantifiable outcome

• 46% improvement in pre-tax losses year-on-year
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Wilkin & Sons (Tiptree): Family-owned Essex-based preserve maker famous for Tiptree jams, marmalades, and conserves. The closest direct peer to Mackays in heritage positioning, premium quality, traditional small-batch production, and UK-plus-international distribution model.
• Duerr's: Manchester-based UK preserves and peanut butter manufacturer founded in 1881. Comparable to Mackays as a long-established British preserves brand selling through major UK supermarkets with international distribution.
• Mrs. Darlington's: Award-winning UK family-run preserves, curds, and chutneys producer. Strongly comparable to Mackays on traditional small-batch manufacturing, premium positioning, gift hamper products, and UK supermarket distribution.
• Frank Cooper's: Historic Oxford Marmalade brand now owned by Premier Foods. Directly comparable to Mackays as a traditional British marmalade brand with strong heritage and supermarket distribution.
• Robertson's: Iconic UK marmalade and preserves brand owned by Premier Foods. Direct competitor to Mackays in the UK supermarket marmalade category with similar heritage positioning and mass-market UK distribution.
• Crofter's Organic: North American organic preserves and fruit spreads producer. Comparable to Mackays on specialty/quality positioning, multi-fruit product range, and growing distribution through mainstream retail channels.

Broad incumbents

• Bonne Maman: Premium French preserves brand owned by Andros Group, distributed globally in iconic checkered-lid jars. A larger international incumbent competing with Mackays in UK and export markets on premium preserves.
• Hartley's: Mass-market UK jam brand owned by Hain Celestial. Competes with Mackays in UK preserves but targets broader value-oriented segments rather than Mackays' premium heritage niche.
• Premier Foods: UK-listed food manufacturer and owner of Robertson's and Frank Cooper's preserves/marmalade brands. A broader incumbent whose preserves portfolio directly competes with Mackays in UK retail.
• Hain Celestial Group: Multinational natural and organic food company owning Hartley's and other preserves brands. A broader incumbent whose preserves portfolio competes with Mackays across UK and international retail channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mackays_jams
• Facebookfacebook.com/mackays.jams
• Instagraminstagram.com/mackays

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mackays