Perthshire-based crisp maker Mackies at Taypack is targeting a major increase in export volumes after gaining a foothold in the massive Chinese market.
Managing director George Taylor said the company, which is based at the old brickworks at Errol, had enjoyed strong growth for its core crisps lines during last year.
He said demand had started to increase in the Far East and the firm was making efforts to seize that opportunity.
“The crisp business is going well,” Mr Taylor said.
“Last year closed with another 25% growth year-on-year and we certainly see that continuing through to 2020 through a combination of three main outlets.
“One is through the major retailers and then there is our wholesale food service business and, of course, our export business.
“All three areas are in growth and the new kid on the block for us at the moment is China.
“We are currently exporting about six 40-foot containers per month to Shanghai and we anticipate that market will rapidly grow in 2016.
“We have made a hefty investment in bespoke Chinese packaging and that will launch in two weeks time.
“Our main sales in China are coming from online platforms, the biggest of which is Alibaba, and that is rapidly growing.
“Our three main overseas markets are now Canada, Singapore and China.”
New commercial director James Taylor George’s son and the fourth member of the Taylor to join the business is tasked with driving overseas sales and also pushing the firm’s new range of snacks.
“The popcorn range has been a good two years in the making,” George said.
“Popcorn has been gaining momentum over the last few years as a healthier snack.
“We felt we had to have a slice of the market as nobody had yet done a Scottish popcorn so we have launched a range of four flavours.
“We will test the market over the next year.
“We have already got an immediate listing in all of the Scottish Sainsbury’s stores and we are confident of getting listings in all the majors and minors over the next six months.
“We anticipate getting a good foothold in Scotland initially and then plan to march across the border in time.”