An Aberdeen construction company has landed a £200,000 contract to fit out the coolest place in town – Mackie’s first ice cream parlour.
Burns Construction has now started work to transform the site at the Marischal Square development and give it the “sophistication dipped in fun” revealed recently in Mackie’s concept designs.
The local company, based one mile from the site, was chosen to work on the new parlour, Mackie’s 19.2, which gets its name from the distance the shop lies from the firm’s Rothienorman farm.
A team from Burns have started work on the site and Mackie’s staff are due to get their first look at the completed premises and begin training next month.
Keith McPhee, director at Burns Construction, said: “We are delighted to be carrying out this project for such a renowned local company as Mackie’s and this is one of the reasons we were very keen to obtain this project.
“The Mackie’s team have been absolutely fantastic and we are very much looking forward to carrying out this exciting project with them.
“It’s not often that our work brings us such an unusual mix of design and construction process so close to home.”
Founded in 2000, Burns has previously worked on many projects in and around the Aberdeen area using local labour, sub-contractors and suppliers.
Karin Mackie, marketing director with Mackie’s of Scotland, said: “As our first parlour 19.2 will be a huge milestone for us and we’re delighted to be working with another Aberdeenshire company to realise our vision. We are first and foremost a local family business and we try to reflect that in everything we do.”
Mackie’s announced last year that it will open its first branded retail unit at the £107million Marischal Square development – signing a 15-year lease and joining All Bar One and Marriott Hotels as an early scoop on the developer’s client list.
With opening scheduled for December, Mackie’s 40-cover venture will present customers with a choice of more than 20 new flavours of ice cream, lollies, crepes and waffles, as well as a growing range of chocolate now produced in the £600,000 chocolate factory at the family’s Westertown Farm near Inverurie.
The firm hopes the combination of its produce from the farm, paired with artisan coffee and fresh local foods, will eventually become a familiar fixture in many of Scotland’s towns and cities.