Try 100 flavours of ice cream at Mackie’s Open Farm Charity Day

Press Release 20 May 2010 Mackie’s of Scotland is set to host its first ever open farm charity day in aid of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign. Join the fun between 10am and 4pm on Sunday 6 June at Westertown Farm, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. Denis Emslie, Sales Director, Mackie’s of Scotland, who was diagnosed with the muscle wasting condition muscular dystrophy, , two years ago, said: “We want people to enjoy a great day out with their families and perhaps learn a little about what is involved in food manufacturing. Mackie’s of Scotland has diversified from being a traditional dairy farm to making one of the UK’s best selling luxury ice creams. We already attend farming events like the Royal Highland show but this event offers people the chance to come and see their local farm food producer in action and at the same time help us reach our £30,000 target for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign. Activities on the day include a charity auction held at 3pm which will feature a diamond daisy pendant, from Jamieson & Carry in Aberdeen, a children’s wooden wigwam handmade for Mackie’s by local craftsmen and a break at the Fairmont St Andrews Bay Resort. Visitors can take part in a guess the Mackie’s ice cream flavour competition which includes flavours such as Maltesers and mint, peaches and cream, mulled wine, geranium, chilli and even English breakfast! There will also be a treasure trail in the arboretum, face painting, a bouncy castle, bee keeping displays, pony and tractor rides, a vintage car rally featuring over 29 vintage cars and tractors and not least, the opportunity to see the Mackie’s cows and calves and the specialist milking robots which are used to milk the cow’s thus providing the world famous Mackie’s ice cream. For those looking to relax and enjoy the culinary delights of the day, Mackie’s will be providing a tasting of its own special brand of Mackie’s Potato Crisps and a shop which will sell refreshments, home baking and ice cream which can be enjoyed in the many picnic areas located around the Mackie’s farm. In addition, visitors will also be able to enjoy music from The Gaitherin, a voluntary organisation with charitable status which currently works with young people from Central Aberdeenshire. The Gaitherin hosts tuition festivals based on the musical and cultural heritage of the North East of Scotland and will perform as a band at the open farm charity day. Phil Butcher, Chief Executive of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, said: “Mackie’s is a fantastic champion of the vital work that we do and the open charity farm day will help us raise awareness of muscle diseases and the devastating impact they have on 70,000 babies, children and adults in the UK. We rely entirely on voluntary donations to fund our work funding vital research into treatments and cures for muscle disease.” Entry to the Mackie’s Open Farm Day is free. A £5 car park charge will be donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign. Mackie’s of Scotland began making ice cream in 1986. Today they have 70 staff and 500 cows. Mackie's home is a 1600 acre farm in Aberdeenshire, where the wind, land and cows help produce fresh milk and power for the ice cream dairy. Mackie’s call the process a "design chain" – where the wind provides the power for the farm that grows the crops to feed the cows who make the milk (and cream) to make Mackie’s ice cream. Mackie’s vision is to be a global brand from the greenest company in Britain created by people having fun. Mackie’s want to build its brand and increase export nationally and internationally, look after their environment and continually reduce the company’s carbon footprint, leaving nothing behind except ice cream! www.mackies.co.uk ENDS Notes to Editors: The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign • More than 70,000 babies, children and adults in the UK have muscular dystrophy or a related condition. A further 350,000 people are affected indirectly as family, friends or carers. • Muscle diseases cause muscles to waste and weaken making it hard for those affected to do even the simplest of tasks. The conditions don’t just affect the muscles in the arms and legs but the heart and respiratory muscles too. There are no cures and many affected children don’t live to reach adulthood. • The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign marked its 50th anniversary in 2009. This information and further details from Eilidh Macleod at Denvir T : 01786 435 182 E : eilidh@denvirmarketing.com Information and pictures from Mackie’s Karin Hayhow, Marketing Director T: 0131 667 4497 E: karin@mackies.co.uk Open Day and Muscular Dystrophy information from Mackie’s Denis Emslie, Sales Director T: 01467 671466 E: denis@mackies.co.uk

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