Macphie can trace its origins back to the 1920s, when Alister Macphie founded the company. He started out as a small, family bakery wholesaler business based in Glasgow with a staff of six people. The company was transformed into a major manufacturing force by the dynamic vision of Alister's nephew, Stewart Macphie, when he took over the company in 1954.

With inspiration from the Schou Foundation in Denmark, a major development was the relocation of the business to its present head-quarters in Glenbervie, near Aberdeen in 1973.

The Macphie family had been farming in the Glenbervie area for over 700 years and is famed for its pedigree Aberdeen Angus herd and prime malting barley.

It was here that Stewart Macphie started to manufacture bakery ingredients from a new, purpose-built factory. It was at this time that Macphie also began exporting its products to Europe, the Middle-East and the Caribbean. Macphie pioneered the use of Bag-in-Box technology and launched the first cream alternative - GlenDelight to the bakery market. In 1994, Macphie was awarded with the Queen's Award for Export Achievement.

Stewart’s son, Alastair, was appointed Managing Director in 1995 and took over as Chief Executive in 1997, after the death of his father.

In December 2000, Macphie acquired Oakwood Foods Ltd. in Tannochside, near Glasgow. The frozen & chilled manufacturing plants are located at Tannochside. This is a key element in the company's ambitious plans to accelerate its growth into the food service and food manufacturing sectors.

Under the leadership of Alastair Macphie, Macphie has expanded its business to become the UK’s leading independent food ingredients manufacturer. Core businesses are the bakery, food service and food manufacturing sectors.

Awards & Accolades

Over the years the company has been the recipient of many industry awards and accolades. Recent successes include:

2007

• Business in the Community SME of the Year award
• CommunityMark for Tannochside site

2005

• Investors in People new standard
• Voted as one of the Top 3 employers in the UK food and drink sector in a survey carried out by the Food Manufacturermagazine
• Northern Business Awards - Commitment to People Development award
• National Business Awards - Business Improvement Through People award sponsored by Investors in People
• Chris Thomson from Tannochside won Learndirect Scotland’s Learning Employee of the Year
• Alastair Macphie - Grampian Industrialist of the Year, Junior Chamber International
• Sylvia Halkerston - Institute of Directors, Regional Award
• Scottish Enterprise Business Excellence Award for Excellence in Skills & Learning
• Grampian Food Forum Awards - Best Foodservice category Macphie Crème Caramel and Best Marketing Plan
• Eat Safe - First canteen in Scotland to be accredited with the Food Standards Agency “Eat Safe” Award

2004

• Northern Star Business Award - Achievement in Internationalism award, sponsored by Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce
• Scottish Enterprise Foodservice Excellence Awards - Best Dessert Product category Chocolate Mudslide Sauce

2003

• Scottish Food & Drink Excellence Award 2003 for Macphie Cappuccino Sauce - Foodservice, Dessert Category
• Grampian Food Forum Awards - Best Foodservice Award for Macphie Cappuccino Sauce
• Food and Drink Federation Community Partnerships 2003 - Gold Award

2002

• Baking Industry Awards - Bakery Supplier of the Year, sponsored by Safeway
• Business AM Innovators in Learning Awards - Learning People Award
• Grampian Education Business Partnership - Outstanding Contribution to Education for Work Award

2001

• Food From Scotland awards - Best Foodservice product Traditional Custard