Mackie's has pushed up operating profits for the year ended May 31, 2007, but will not pay a dividend for the period, according to accounts filed with Companies House.
The Aberdeenshire farming and ice-cream company saw operating profits rise by 84% to £586,851 from £318,282 in the previous period, but pre-tax profits melted slightly, coming in at £445,684, down from £457,584 in 2006.
Emoluments for the firm's directors fell to £325,294 from £443,739.
In a statement within the accounts, the directors said the luxury ice-cream market remained competitive during the year but the company managed the risk by maintaining "strong relationships" with key supermarkets and by striving to keep costs under control.
"Like other manufacturing businesses, power and fuel are significant costs and the com-pany is seeing real benefits from its investment in new windmills."
Mackie's has upgraded its production equipment to provide a new range of products and to meet growing demand for its brands of luxury ice-cream.
The company increased the number of employees to 73 from 67 in 2006.
Mackie's ice-cream sells in supermarkets such as J Sainsbury, Waitrose and Asda, and in countries as far afield as Norway and South Korea.
Based at Westertown farm in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, Mackie's began making ice-cream in 1986 to use up the extra cream produced by the firm's Jersey and Friesian cows.
The company says it is committed to sustainability at every stage of production, "from cow to cone". The three 850kw wind turbines at the farm produce 60% more electricity than the firm needs and the surplus is sold on to an energy company.
Mackie's has zero water wastage and takes pot ale, a waste product from whisky making, from nearby Glendronach distillery to fertilise fields. One-tenth of the farm has been planted with trees to counter carbon emissions.
Rather than use traditional ploughing, the company uses a minimal till machine that only agitates the surface of the soil to ensure more of an active organic layer is retained and to minimise the loss of carbon.
In keeping with the com-pany's green evolution, it is striving to use less plastic and more materials in its packaging that can be recycled.
Eco-friendly business practices at Mackie's have landed it numerous awards.
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