Chrystal clear on the vision for mums shortbread recipe.

“I remember watching the film “Baby Boom” you know, where the mum made apple sauce for her baby, everyone loved it and it kick started a million dollar business? We had a daughter who had just accepted a place at University and we were looking for ways to pay her fees. The shortbread idea was going to be our Baby Boom, maybe not with the million dollar turnover but at least a way of supplementing our income. We never expected it to turn out the way it has though.”
Chrystal Mackinlay cant believe they're about to celebrate their 10th anniversary this September. You will have seen the shortbread, the brightly coloured tin with the scene of the sailing boats and the mountains. If you have tasted it you will also remember it. Its beautifully buttery and not overly dry like so much commercial shortbread on the market. Speaking to Chrystal today she cant believe how fast the company has grown.


“The original recipe was from my mum, she was a great baker, she used to do all the home baking for my brothers business T.G. Allan’s which was on the front in Helensburgh. I was the café manager at the time and helped mum with the baking. When our daughter won her place at University, it got me thinking of how we could create an extra income for her fees and digs. I spoke to my husband Rory about my shortbread idea. He agreed but with the caveat — “Only if you do it properly!”
“I started off slowly, using my mums commercial kitchen at her house to begin with and selling at small events such as the market at Loch Lomond Shores. Anna Curly first approached me to supply the Buffet Shop in the square.
Rory at the time had also just finished a 20 year career with Jaguar at Taggarts in Motherwell, he was the after sales manager. He was to pursue another business idea with his wedding cars service. As a thank you to his boss at Taggarts, Rory gave him a tin of my shortbread. His boss loved it so much he called me up and asked if I would supply him with shortbread for his customers. His idea was to present everyone who bought a new or used car from Taggarts with a tin of Chrystals shortbread. It was amazing, it was our biggest order to date and we thought it would only last a couple of years. We’re still supplying them today.”




Another big break came from the retailer “Liquorice Tree” which is situated at Edinburgh Airport. She had tasted our shortbread at a trade fair and put her order in shortly after. We couldn’t supply them fast enough”.
What is clear when speaking with Chrystal is how many of her customers have placed their orders after tasting the product. There’s no pushy sales or a big marketing machine in place. Its purely off the back of a delicious tasting product.
“The head buyer for Dobbies in Stirling had received a box as a Christmas present from a friend and phoned to place an order for three of their outlets in Scotland. We also supply nineteen National Trust properties. The owner of the cafe/bar “The Doocot” situated at The Lighthouse in Glasgow had tasted our shortbread at a festival. They placed a big order within our first year. That’s when I handed my notice in at the café, it was going loopy!”



The company now employ six staff, increasing by two pre Christmas and work out of an industrial unit in Balloch. Rory now works full time in the business and as Chrystal explains,
“I do the baking, Rory does everything else! Its 98% wholesale and 2% direct to customers.”
Its not all been plain sailing though. As you can imagine one of their biggest outgoings is the ingredients.
“One of our biggest challenges to date has been a massive increase in the cost of butter. We used to pay £633 for 10 big packs of butter. This month we are currently paying £1550 for the same amount. We’ve increased our prices a little but we can’t match the increase in butter, there’s a ceiling on what people will pay for shortbread. We’re hoping that there will be government intervention soon, this effects so many people in the food business.”

Challenges aside Chrystal is still incredibly modest about the success she and Rory have achieved. Where so many new businesses don’t make it past their first year, they’re soon to celebrate 10 years in business and with new packaging design on the way its full steam ahead for this enterprising couple.
TRADE ENQUIRIES:
Please contact Rory on 07799 493545
Stockists in Helensburgh:
Deli in the square, Callaghan Butchers, Shooftie on James Street and Ardardan Farm Shop
