Mackie’s of Scotland has recorded “record” revenues in 2019 with a 20% increase in annual turnover and a 37% spike in pre-tax profits.
Accounts lodged with Companies House show turnover up to £16.7 million for the year ending May 2019 from £13.9m the year before.
Pre-tax profits also soared to £2.2m up from £1.4m in 2018.
The firm said a key driver for the record results included sales of chocolate, which grew 63% on the previous year “off the back of recipe refinement, with growth within Scotland and surging orders in key export markets”.
They added this was boosted further by the introduction of a smaller 35g bar across its four flavours.
Ice cream sales also grew, with its traditional flavour remaining Scotland’s top-selling ice cream product and rising to the fourth throughout the entire UK.
They said this was against a total market decline of 1.8%.
The firm is now targeting further market expansion in London and the south east.
Across the entire business, revenues from exports increased by 72%, with the US and Far East markets developing at pace, they said.
Its Aberdeen parlour, Mackie’s 19.2, also saw sales increase by 136%.
Mac Mackie, managing director and one of three sibling owners, said: “This has been a quite extraordinary set of results for the business.
“While this set of results undoubtedly benefited from 2018’s glorious summer weather, beyond that this was no fluke.
“We’ve worked over the years to grow, cut costs and diversify the business across products and markets.
“Our dedicated and immensely loyal team is central to everything good that we do – and we were able to provide all staff with a 5% bonus, reflecting our gratitude to everyone involved.
“I’m especially delighted to see our chocolate range maturing and further establishing itself as a go-to choice for many at home and abroad.
“This past year’s success is enabling us to make a serious investment in improving our operations, which will in the longer term increase our sustainability and secure job opportunities for more staff in our native Aberdeenshire and beyond.”
The firm said it was driving profits back into the business, with a key focus for the current year being the creation of a £4.5m, environmentally friendly refrigeration system that will reduce both energy use and CO2 emissions by 80%.
The company’s net assets were up by 12.2% and operating profit continued to rise, standing at £2.1m.
Overall costs rose by 17% on the previous year and the firm boosted its headcount by seven to 83.