Macknade becomes the first outlet in the country to have an Otties yoghurt dispenser this month.

The yoghurt dispenser offers a real drive towards sustainability, encouraging shoppers to refill their own vessels, and delivers a c.70% reduction in plastic comparative to individual yoghurts pots.

Shoppers can visit Macknade in Faversham to sample Otties high-quality locally sourced swiss style yogurt. In a company-wide bid to dramatically reduce packaging (and price point), customers may pick up a pot in the first instance or bring their own containers for the delicatessen team to fill up and price according to weight. There are already plans to roll a second machine out to Macknade's highly anticipated Elwick Place site, now open in Ashford.”

“This yoghurt is absolutely beautiful and comes from a local family run business based in Kent's Elham Valley. Like us, Otties is pushing the boundaries to reduce its environmental impact on the world. It's really important for us to support the growth and reach of local businesses and this is just one example of the relationships we cultivate. Not only are we confident that we are offering a premium yoghurt product to our customers, it is also helping us to meet our own goals of reducing the packaging and waste produced by the business. Not to mention that it tastes incredible.” comments Stefano Cuomo, Managing Director of Macknade.

David Guy, Owner of Otties, added, “We chose to partner with Macknade for this launch as it offers a shopping experience that is tuned into local farming and local producers. The delicatessen is exceptional, and provenance & sustainability are so key to their offering.”

“We are the last family run dairy farm in the Elham Valley and are based in south east Kent. Due to the pressure on dairy farms over the last few years, we decided to diversify into yoghurt and we have created a really fantastic high quality swiss style yoghurt, which we're really proud of. This is the future of yoghurt as it offers a far more efficient production process and vastly reduces the plastic required.”

Otties is based on the iconic East Kent Downs where three generations have worked the land at Ottinge Court since the turn of the last century. The countryside makes for perfect dairy farming, and nine decades later the herd continues to thrive.

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Editor's Notes

Macknade has been at the forefront of food & drink in the UK for over 170 years, creating spaces for people & communities to come together over a shared love of food & drink.

The Kentish-Italian business has been in the same family for sixth generations, but it was not until 1979 that they began retailing – opening Macknade Farm Shop, which later became known as Macknade Food Hall. What started life as a tent in a field on the family farm is now a 10,000sqft food hall, delicatessen, café & butcher employing over 90 people.

Macknade has just opened its second site in nearby Ashford, offering an all-day dining experience at Elwick Place.

For more information about Macknade, please visit www.macknade.com.