How Taylor Snacks Emerged Into the Snacking Industry

Taylor Snacks, formerly known as Mackie's Crisps, is a snack manufacturer specialising in crisps, popcorn and lentil snacks.

The company originated from a joint venture between the Taylor family and Mackie's of Scotland in 2009, before rebranding in 2022 following a buyout.

Known for its Scottish-inspired flavours and premium positioning, Taylor Snacks has become a significant player in the UK snack market.

The firm works with major supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons. 

It has also contributed to the growth of the premium snack sector in the UK, introducing innovative flavours and expanding into healthier options.

While primarily popular in Scotland, the company has expanded its reach to other parts of the UK and has begun exporting to international markets, including Canada.

The brand's success demonstrates the potential for regional producers to compete in the national snack market.

Here at Food & Drink Digital, James Taylor, MD of Taylor Snacks, provides insight into the company’s success.

What does Taylors Snacks do?

We’re a family-owned business, crafting unique snacks. 

Our roots are nestled in the hills of rural Perthshire, Scotland, where four generations of Taylor farming heritage fuels our passion.

We jumped at the opportunity to enter the snack world about 15 years ago, initially collaborating with the Mackie family to launch Mackie’s Crisps.

Now, we proudly put our own name on the packets and have done since 2023.

At Taylors Snacks, we create a variety of crisps, lentil waves and popcorn, showcasing the Taylor family name and catering to our growing list of private label partners.

Our crisps and lentil waves are made in Errol, while our popcorn is produced in Sheffield.

It’s been an exhilarating past 12 months with significant growth and there’s real excitement as we're set to double in size over the next 1-3 years.

We thrive on pushing boundaries when innovating new flavours and products – our mantra is “always bold and never bland."

Our hero crisps boast a truly unique texture and a signature potato taste that’s simply unmatched. 

What is your role at Taylors Snacks?

As MD, I wear a lot of hats, which keeps things interesting! I’m involved across all functions, but we really encourage autonomy here.

We empower our skilled department heads to lead their teams, while I’m here to support and cheer them on.

My main focus is on fine-tuning our growth strategies, exploring exciting new opportunities and making sound investment decisions.

Keeping operations smooth and nurturing strong relationships with our suppliers and customers is the secret ingredient to our success.

What is the biggest challenge of your role?

Balancing the needs of every function while managing cash flow and investments can be like juggling flaming torches.

We’re a growing business and with finite resources, prioritising what we can achieve is a constant balancing act.

Every area needs attention and keeping an eye on all the moving parts can be challenging.

But honestly, I thrive on this kind of dynamic environment – it keeps me on my toes.

How do you meet this challenge?

A capable team in every function is my not-so-secret weapon.

Our strong leadership team operates with autonomy and grace, making decisions and tackling situations independently, but seeking my input when necessary.

This approach allows us to tackle challenges head-on without getting bogged down in details.

I can’t do it all myself, and I don’t have to – having a strong, supportive team makes all the difference.

What do you attribute Taylors Snacks' success and expansion to?

Our success is rooted in our laser-focus on producing top-quality products and standing out with strong, positive distinctions.

Our small but agile team is like a group of snacking superheroes, meeting customer demands with lightning speed, seizing opportunities and innovating without the red tape.

We make decisions swiftly and effectively, together.

It’s really about being nimble and having fun with it.

Best advice ever received?

I've been lucky to have mentors who shared wisdom that resonates: patience, consistency and a great team are all key.

Being patient with business expectations is crucial.

While ambitions are wonderful, overnight success is rare.

Staying true to our values and maintaining a consistent focus on quality service and products helps us grow strong.

Building a team that shares our family passion and energy is the heart of our success.

It’s all about enjoying the journey and celebrating every little win along the way.

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