2008 Press Release (pdf)
Press Contact: sales@mackaysicecream.com
One scoop of Mackay’s ICE CREAM embodies the core values of the company. From production to pleasure our philosophy is rooted in ensuring quality. The Albertan small town, entrepreneurial spirit meets superior local and global ingredients to make world renowned ICE CREAM.
Historical Facts
- James MacKay – born in Cochrane, Alberta. His Grandfather, Ewan D. MacKay (1838 – 1908) was one of the early ranchers in the Cochrane area.
Christina Smith – born in Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Jimmy met Christina in 1942 when he was stationed in Wishaw with the Royal Canadian Ordinance Corps, a division of the Canadian Army.
They married in August 1945 in Motherwell, Scotland.
Jimmy shipped back to Canada in February 1946. Christina followed soon after as ‘war brides’ always traveled separately. Her journey to Canada was by train to Southampton, by boat to Halifax, by train to Calgary and by car to Cochrane, population 500.
MacKay’s was launched in 1946 when Jimmy and Christina purchased the town’s general store, the ‘Red and White’. Main Street was the highway through to the Rockies at the time but was moved to the 1A to allow traffic to bypass the town. Ingenuity brought the people back to the town’s streets when Jimmy and Christina started making ICE CREAM in 1948.
Jim was a visionary who not only developed all kinds of ICE CREAM flavours by trial and error (including dill pickle... pregnant women come on down!), and later tried to sell his townsfolk on frozen yogurt – one full generation before it became trendy.
By the mid 1970s, thousands of people were visiting MacKay’s and not only from Calgary but around the globe. The all time record day was in August 1976 when the shoppe logged 4500 ICE CREAM fans.
Jimmy passed away in 1983 and daughters Rhona and Robyn MacKay, who grew up in the Shoppe, suddenly found themselves running the family business. Although challenging at first, the MacKay sisters rose to the occasion and grew the family business. To improve their knowledge they took ICE CREAM courses at University of Guelph and Penn State University. They then added flavours, renovated the Shoppe, expanded the ICE CREAM factory and branched out into the wholesale business.
As in many family businesses, Rhona and Robyn carved out specific responsibilities. Rhona’s focus is product manufacturing and administration and Robyn handles personnel and marketing. Both share in day-to-day management of the Shoppe.
The Entrepreneurial spirit of the MacKay sisters shines through and they have been rewarded for their efforts:
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- 1994 – Maclean’s Magazine Honor Roll
1994 – University of Toronto, Faculty of Management’s “Canadian Women Entrepreneur of the Year” award.
- In 1997, MacKay’s added a refrigerated delivery truck to service wholesale customers in Calgary and surrounding areas. Also, a 1200 square foot freezer was purchased to store more ICE CREAM.
1998 marked 50 years of ICE CREAM history for MacKay’s. A weekend full of events to recognize the 50th Anniversary was celebrated in Cochrane. A packaging and branding change marked the event as well.
Current Facts
- MacKay’s Cochrane ICE CREAM is located on 1st street in Downtown Cochrane, population 13,500, and 35kms west of Calgary, Alberta Canada.
MacKay’s scoops ONLY super premium, hand made ICE CREAM from fresh Alberta cream. The ICE CREAM is made, and has ALWAYS been made, in our factory in Cochrane, a few blocks away from the Shoppe.
MacKay’s Cochrane ICE CREAM contains 17% butterfat. Most ICE CREAM contains 10% butterfat. This is what makes MacKay’s so rich and dense and creamy.
MacKay’s also makes Sorbet, which is a non-dairy frozen treat and Frozen Yogurt.
MacKay’s has recipes for over 200 flavours of ICE CREAM. The best selling flavour is Chocolate, followed by Vanilla and Strawberry.
Some of our more innovative flavours include: Purple Yam, Avocado and Black Cherry. Also we look toward the creativity of chefs and make Chai Tea ICE CREAM, Mayan Chocolate ICE CREAM (with chili and cinnamon) as well as Limoncello Sorbet.
MacKay’s produces more than 120,000 Litres of ICE CREAM per year. That is about 630,000 scoops. That represents every school age child in Alberta and keeps 2007 cows busy per year.
MacKay’s is the premier tourism draw for the Town of Cochrane, a regular destination for day visitors from Calgary as well as a popular stop for tourists on their way to the Rocky Mountains. MacKay’s has been visited by people from all over the world, including Malaysia, South America and even Iceland and Siberia!
Come taste the tradition.
Swerve Calgary - August 5, 2011
Calgary Herald article - May 14, 2008 (pdf)
Cochrane Connects, Premier Edition, Fall 2008 pg 46 (pdf)
Avenue Calgary - 25 Best Eats in Calgary (March 2009)
The Edible Prairie Journal (pdf)
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MacKays ICE CREAM, Located at: 220- 1st St West, Cochrane, Alberta • Mailing Address: Box 250 Cochrane Alberta T4C 1A5