Get Served by Mitchells Dairy this Wimbledon

Fans flocked to SW19 yesterday for the first day of Wimbledon, but at Mitchells Dairy, we're more excited by a fortnight of strawberries and cream than serves and challenges!

So, if you aren't lucky enough to have centre court tickets, or aren't willing to queue for hours for ground passes, you haven't missed the chance to watch Wimbledon in style.

You can cheer on Andy Murray from the comfort of your own home, with some tasty treats that will make you feel like you're supporting him from the stands!

We have locally grown strawberries and raspberries from Barra Berries, which will of course be absolutely perfect served with Mitchells cream or ice cream.

Once you have devoured those, you can then move on to some Berry Scrumptious Strawberry and Cream chocolate, washed down with Cairn O’Mohr Sparkling Scottish Strawberry wine.

For those of you too busy watching the action to cook, we can even help you stack up on some scrumptious, but simple meals for dinnertime.

There is plenty to choose from the Mitchells deli counter, including cooked hams, cheese, homemade quiche and pate, as well as a whole host of crisps, snacks, wines and beers from our Grocery Shop. 

So, if you're looking for some delicious Wimbledon-inspired treats this summer, make sure you're served by Mitchells!

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Father's Day Favourites at Mitchells

With Father's Day just around the corner, why not get your dad an extra-special gift this year from Mitchells Dairy?

There’s so much to choose from at Mitchells; we have a fantastic selection of cheeses and chutneys, as well as beers, wines and whiskies which are certain to go down well with your dad.

If these don’t take your fancy, why not take a look at our special hampers on our Hamper Store? If our fathers are anything to go by, the Beers and Snacks Hamper is sure to be a firm favourite with all the dads out there.

For just £48, you will get a hamper crammed full with daddy's favourites, including Tyrrells Crisps, Mackies of Scotland Crisps, Deeside Brewery Beer, Innis & Gunn Oak Aged, and of course, good old Tunnocks Teacakes.

If this doesn't whet your appetite, we can make up hampers to your individual requirements. Just be sure to let us know all your dad’s favourites and we’ll do our best to include them.

If your old man is a little fussy, you are still struggling to find the perfect gift, why not let him choose his own? Mitchells' gift vouchers can be purchased, allowing your dad to browse and make his own selection.

We know the date is fast approaching, but don't worry - if you don't have time to pop into store, phone us on 01467 621389 or visit us online and we can then arrange to courier to mainland UK addresses.

We hope we have helped give you some ideas for Fathers Day, and we hope you all have a wonderful day shared with the most special man in your life.

Remember everyone - think gift, think Mitchells.

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What a Delicious Taste of Grampian

We would like to say a huge Mitchells Dairy thank you to all our wonderful customers and friends who stopped by to see us last Saturday at Taste of Grampian, the one-day food and drink festival.

Taste of Grampian is always a fantastic day out, and this year's event, which took place at the Thainstone Centre in good old Inverurie, was certainly no different.

Our stand was situated just underneath the clock in the main concourse, and although it was incredibly busy, we were able to keep everyone happy with samples of Mitchells milk, our handmade oatcakes, and of course, our delicious Mitchells ice cream.

We managed to have a look around and see celebrity chefs Simon Rimmer, Nick Nairn and Lady Claire MacDonald doing demos, as well as get the chance to sample the wide range of high quality food and drink products from Grampian.

Don't get us wrong, we know more than most how good the produce and producers in Aberdeenshire are - but Taste of Grampian just showcases how lucky we really are.

While we were having a look around, we also got a chance to read a new publication, Aberdeenshire Larder, which launched at the event. Aberdeenshire Larder is part of The List series of food and drink publications, featuring places to eat and where to buy the best produce from the region.

Mitchells has a listing in the publication, and if you want to have a read and find more of the best food and drink in Aberdeenshire, they are available for free from our shop and tearoom.

You can see some of our pictures from the day below, including one of Judy and the aforementioned Mr. Rimmer, who happened to tweet us afterwards saying 'it's always a treat coming to Grampian!'.

It is indeed Simon, it is indeed!

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Why Mitchells Dairy Help our Heroes

Last month, we threw our weight behind the Help for Heroes Colossal Cake Sale and we are delighted to say that, thanks to the generosity of our customers, we raised £153.07 for the charity.

Following that terrific effort, we were once again delighted to support Help for Heroes at last weekend's Cocktails, Clothes and Cakes event at Meldrum House Country Hotel and Golf Course.

Set amidst beautiful countryside just a few short miles from Aberdeen, The 4 Gold Star Meldrum is one of Scotland's finest luxury hotels - and fortunately for everyone in attendance, the sun shone throughout.

It was a lovely afternoon with fashion shows by local businesses, a fantastic cocktail reception and afternoon tea, and the event raised well in excess of £3300 for Help for Heroes, which is a magnificent effort by everyone involved.

Help for Heroes do some amazing work for our wounded soldiers and their families, and we wanted to let you know why Mitchells Dairy support this thoroughly deserving charity.

As well as other friend and family connections with the forces, Judy's step-aunt, Louise Bennet, has three sons who are currently serving, or have previously been in the Royal Marines, and she sends thousands of buns to British troops in Afghanistan.

Louise has dispatched around 68,000 buns, and currently sends out 450 per week to 12 addresses; 11 in Afghanistan and one to Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Five of the current dispatches go to 2 SCOTS, who are in various areas of Afghanistan. 

You can read more about 'Louby Lou’s Buns of Mass Production', the nickname given to them by Terry Wogan after she sent him a batch when he did the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show, in this article in The Daily Mail.

You can also watch Louise talking about her 'Buns of Mass Production' on STV's The Hour, with Darius Campbell and Michelle McManus below.

It is through Louise that we got to hear of Help for Heroes, and since then, Judy's dad and step mum have held two garden parties in recent years to fundraise, which has raised over £15,000 for the charity.

So, to cut a long story short, this is why we jumped at the chance to be part of Meldrum House’s event and take part in the Help for Heroes Colossal Cake Sale!

We would love to hear your stories about why you support Help for Heroes, or indeed, why you support any particular charity. As usual, you can let us know on this blog post, or on Facebook or Twitter.

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Fantastic Fun at the Foodie Fundraiser

We would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who came along to our inaugural #foodiefundraiser tasting evening last week - for helping us raise over £1000 for The RNLI!

The evening was a tremendous success, and as we still have some donations coming in, it looks like the final amount raised will be nearer £1,100.

The food and wine suppliers were delighted with the interest and feedback they were getting for the produce they sampled, and from our perspective, the evening really did open people's eyes to the range of produce we stock in the shop.

There were lots of comments like 'I didn’t know you stocked that' and 'gosh, your malt whisky prices are really competitive' and that’s exactly what we hoped for – people coming in and browsing round the shop with fresh eyes.

For those who want to donate further to the RNLI, you will be happy to know that our goodwill didn't stop at our #foodiefundraiser. Over the next few weeks, customers can continue to show their support by purchasing wines from a specially labelled range, with 50p for each bottle sold going to the RNLI.

Once again, thank you so much to everyone who came along on Thursday evening, it is hugely appreciated.

We would also like to thank those who were not able to attend but made a donation, the Inverurie fundraising branch of the RNLI and of course our fabulous suppliers; Claire Rennie from Berry Scrumptious, Alan, Alan and Fiona from Downies Fish, Gordon and Shona Presly from Presly Butchers, Nicky Groat from Devenick Dairy, Dianne Smith from JG Ross and Pulsetta, and John Chalmers from Enotria Wines.

If you didn't manage to make it along, here's some photos from the event. You can find more on our Facebook page by clicking HERE.

PS. We are already thinking of our next tasting evening – what do you think about a beer or whisky night? Let us know by posting on this blog post or on Facebook or Twitter. 

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Colossal Cake Sale at Mitchells

As you all know, we always like to show our support for charity events at Mitchells Dairy - and the Help for Heroes Colossal Cake Sale is no exception!

The event officially runs from this Saturday 20 April to 5 May, and over the next week or so, we will be selling some of our home-made cupcakes, as well as some delicious cakes specially made for the cake sale.

There will be a table set up in the shop with Help for Heroes bunting, flags and collection tins, as well as some colossal cakes of course! We will also have wristbands and some badges to sell - and all proceeds will be donated to Help for Heroes.

Last year, 700 cake sale enthusiasts nationwide donned their aprons, grabbed their wooden spoons, and with some celebrity support behind it, this year is expected to be even bigger and better. Lorraine Kelly and celebrity chef, James Tanner launched the event - and here's what Lorraine had to say.

Help for Heroes do some amazing work for our wounded soldiers and their families, and we are so excited, and proud, to bake up a storm to support our heroes.

If you can't make it along to the shop, but would like to have your own Colossal Cake Sale at work or school, it's very simple to register. Simply click here, and don’t forget to check out the Help for Heroes Guide to a Colossal Cake Sale for more information.

You can also visit the Help For Heroes shop to buy a fabulous range of cake-related accessories to help you look the part by clicking here.

As well as supporting the Colossal Cake Sale, we are also throwing our weight behind the Cocktails, Clothes and Cakes event at Meldrum House Country Hotel and Golf Course on Sunday 19th May.

This fantastic event is also in support of Help for Heroes, and for any Mitchells Dairy hamper or fruit basket order that is placed on the day, we will make a donation to the charity!

We will give you more information about this event nearer the time, but in the meantime, we hope you can all get along to the shop, enjoy some colossal cakes and support our heroes!

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Midweek at Meldrum

Do you want to enjoy the enviable heritage of the North East of Scotland while enjoying exceptional hospitality and outstanding cuisine? If so, Meldrum House Country Hotel & Golf Course's 'Midweek at Meldrum' offer could be perfect for you.

Set amidst beautiful countryside just a few short miles from Aberdeen, The 4 Gold Star Meldrum is one of Scotland's finest luxury hotels - and Mitchells Dairy are delighted to be playing a small part in their fantastic midweek offer.

Available between 1st April and 30th September 2013, Monday to Thursday only, 'Midweek at Meldrum' includes:

• Two nights' accommodation in an executive room
• Full Scottish breakfast.
• Entry and guided tour of Fyvie Castle
• A 'wee' tasting tour of Glen Garioch Distillery
• One of our very own luxury Mitchells Dairy hampers to take home

For just £275 per couple based on two sharing a twin / double executive room for two nights, we really think this is a fantastic offer - and if you do decide to visit Aberdeenshire, make sure you take some time out your trip to come to Inverurie and pop in to Mitchells.

The Dairy Tearoom is an ideal stop for lunch or a snack, and with two free hours in our customer car park, you will have plenty of time to wander around and have a look at our wide range of local produce, including whiskies.

We also offer takeaways and, by arrangement, can make up picnic food and platters for picnics and days out.

If you want to take advantage of Meldrum House Country Hotel & Golf Course's Midweek at Meldrum offer, you can book now on +44 (0)1651 872 294 or email: enquiries@meldrumhouse.com.

If you want to find out more about Mitchells, simply call into the shop, phone 01467 621389 or email at info@mitchells-scotland.com.

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Motherly Love at Mitchells

Mother's Day 2013 is fast approaching - so why not make your mum feel extra-special this year with a gift from Mitchells Dairy?

We have a fantastic selection of chocolates, flowers, wine and champagne, whereas if you want to get something a little bit different, we have a special Mother's Day Hamper, Strawberry Fare, which is sure to go down a treat in your household.

Priced at just £35, this selection of fruity delights is presented in a wicker tray basket, and includes Blossom Hill red wine and white wine, Whitakers chocolates, Walkers cherry cake, Beech's Strawberry Creams, Berry Scrumptious BerryFudge and Walkers Homebake Shortbread. 

If Strawberry Fare doesn't suit you (and we can't imagine why!) we can also make bespoke gift baskets, hampers and fruit baskets to suit any requirements.

Additionally, we also have some unique gifts, pictured below, which have been proving extremely popular in our store. 

If you have been on the Mitchells Dairy Facebook page recently, you will have noticed our locally grown Polyanthus Plants, which come in at just £1.25 each! They are really bright and beautiful - and are sure to put a smile on your mum's face this Sunday.

If your mum isn't a keen gardener, our lovely hardwood tea light holders could be the perfect gift. We have written about them before on our blog, but we really think these would make a delightful Mother's Day gift.

We hope we have helped give you some ideas for Mother's Day, but more importantly, we hope you all have a wonderful day shared with the most special women in your life.

If you want to buy any of these gifts or place an order for a bespoke gift, simply call into the shop, phone 01467 621389, email at info@mitchells-scotland.com or visit our website at www.mitchells-scotland.com.

Remember... think gift, think Mitchells!

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Ready, Steady... Meal!

Most of you will know that Mitchells Dairy offers a wide range of delicious products in our Dairy Tearoom and Grocery - but did you know we also offer home baking and ready-made meals?

Cooked on the premises using fresh local ingredients with no added preservatives, our ready-made meals really are 'home cooking' - except without the work for you!

From mince, haggis, stew tatties and veg, fish pie, macaroni cheese, chicken curry, sausage and mash - Mitchells' meals are popular with customers of all ages.

All the beef for our home made steak pies, stews, stovies, mince and lasagne comes from Presly & Co Butchers in Oldmeldrum, who buy direct from local farms - so we can honestly say it’s a mere 25 food miles from farm to shop!

So, whether it’s a quick meal in a busy schedule, an unexpected lunch or dinner guest, a relaxing family meal or perhaps just to ensure an elderly family member is eating proper nutritious home cooking, Mitchells can provide the perfect meal for you. 

We are happy to take orders and can even cook meals by special request. In fact, customers have been known to bring in their own dishes for us to fill - so no-one needs to know you didn’t cook the meal yourself!

If you do decide you want to buy your ready-made meals at Mitchells, why not have them delivered with your grocery shopping?

Here's our trusted delivery driver, Robbie, dropping some delicious ready-made meals to a local family. And as you can see on our van, we really do 'deliver more than just milk'.

You can shop for yourself or phone us on 01467 621389, or alternatively you can fill in our order form by clicking HERE and fax or email it to us.

We also offer a complimentary grocery delivery service in and around Inverurie when you spend £25 or more in the shop.

Below, you can see our delivery driver Robbie. And as you can see on our van: 'We deliver more than just milk'.

Would this help you, a family member or neighbour who finds cooking or carrying shopping home a nuisance? If so, let Mitchells take the strain and hassle out of your grocery shopping chores.

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Join The Mitchells' Herd

If you are a regular at Mitchells Dairy, you will know that we have a fantastic team to be proud of - and this month, we are looking to add a couple of friendly faces to our ever-growing herd!

We are looking for a Delicatessen Counter Assistant to work at our counter which offers cheeses and cooked meats, as well as an After-School Assistant to come in and work with our friendly team in Inverurie.

So, if you are a friendly, sociable person with great customer service, these part-time positions could be a great opportunity for you to earn some extra pocket money.

And don't worry - no previous experience is required, as training will be provided!

Delicatessen Counter Assistant

Vacancy Details

• This is a part time position of around 10 hours per week, however the opportunity to pick up more hours may arise in the future. 
• Duties will involve serving customers on the deli counter, managing stock and cleaning of equipment. 
• Please note - hours are by negotiation depending on the successful candidate's availability. 
• No previous experience is required as training will be given although food handling experience would be an advantage.

After-School Assistant

Vacancy Details

• Someone aged 16 or over to work 7 hours per week after school.
• The hours would be from 4pm-5.30pm on Monday/Tuesday/Thursday and from 3pm-5.30pm on a Wednesday.
• Duties will include servicing customers, operating the till and general shop duties. 
• We will provide you with full training in these duties - so no previous experience is required.

If you have a friendly manner, a tidy appearance and the ability to provide good customer service, these positions might just be perfect for you!

You can apply by collecting an application form from our shop, calling us on 01467 621 389 or dropping us an email at info@mitchells-scotland.com.

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Fishin' You a Merry Christmas

Fancy something other than roast turkey this Christmas?

If so, you might like to indulge in some fresh fish from Downies of Whitehills for your Christmas feast!

Downies Fish counter, in-store at the Mitchells Grocery, offers a delicious range of freshly-caught, quality Scottish fish, hot and cold smoked fish, as well as Downies award winning Cullen Skink Soup and Fish Pies.

The members of Downies staff within Mitchells are more than happy to arrange for orders to be taken for any unusual requests, as they pride themselves on being able to source a variety of seafood given plenty of notice.

But as you can see from the picture on your right, you will need to get your hands on an order form before the 22nd Dec.

That's because Downies' fishing boats will not be heading out to sea and the counter will be closed from the 22nd December until the 8th January.

So what are you waiting for? Why not make the most of these great offers and bring something new to the Christmas dinner table this year?

You never know - Downies’ fish could have you converted for life!

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Mooovember at Mitchells

The male members of the Mitchells Dairy team may look a little bit different this month - that's because they will be growing moustaches for the Movember campaign!

For anyone who is not aware; the aim of Movember is to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and testicular cancer.

In order to do so, men across the world begin the 1st of 'Movember' with a clean shaven face, then for the entire month, each participant must grow some facial hair from scratch.

Since its humble beginnings in Australia, Movember has grown to become a truly global movement - in 2011, over 854,000 people around the world got on board, raising £79.3 million.

The funds raised in the UK are directed to programmes run directly by Movember and their men’s health partners, Prostate Cancer UK and the Institute of Cancer Research.

For the rest of November, or Movember as it will now be known, the Mitchells team will chart the progress of their moustaches with regular photo updates on our blog, Facebook and Twitter.

Here is a picture of Keith with his two-day old moustache. He looks like he could be capable of growing some fine moustachery, doesn't he?

Over the next four weeks, we will be with Keith and the rest of the team every step of the way as they raise some hairs, and awareness, for Movember.

You might also want to keep an eye on Mooorial’s features as well, as she may consider supporting the men by adorning a mooo-stache.

If you want to keep up to date with our Movember campaign, follow us on Facebook and Twitter and remember to keep checking our blog for weekly updates.

You can also visit Keith's Movember page and donate to him by clicking HERE.

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Mitchells Hampers - The Perfect Christmas Gift

With the festive season just around the corner, we have got the perfect gift for you - Mitchells' luxurious Christmas hampers.

Mitchells' hampers and fruit baskets have always proven exceptionally popular, however your friends and family are bound to be delighted with your unique gift, especially at Christmas.

If you want to buy your Christmas hampers directly online, you could indulge in the £140 Taste Of Scotland Hamper, or stock up for Christmas parties with the £80 Christmas Greetings Hamper.*

Starting from just £35 and ranging up to £140, there really is a hamper to suit every taste and budget online, however our speciality is making hampers to individual requirements. 

Individual, Unique Christmas Hampers

Quite simply, you give us an idea of how much you would like to spend and the sorts of contents you would like - and we do the rest, including arranging delivery!

Whether your requirement is for an individual bespoke hamper or a corporate order, we are more than happy to help you create a beautifully presented Christmas gift, bursting with all your seasonal favourites.

In the run up to Christmas, we will also have a display of 'ready to go' hampers and gift baskets for sale in the shop, which prove extremely popular, especially for those with limited time on their hands.

If you would prefer to pick your own hampers in store, you can come into the shop, and choose your own basket (or box) and hamper contents. You can then take your choices home to make your own hamper, or for a small charge, we will gift wrap it ready for collection by arrangement or we can deliver to mainland UK addresses. 

So, what are you waiting for? Treat your family and friends, or yourself, to a unique hamper this Christmas time.

Get in touch and order a hamper to your specific requirements, by calling us on 01467 621389 or emailing us at info@mitchells-scotland.com

You can also visit our online Hampers Store by clicking HERE or simply call into our shop in Market Place, Inverurie.

*The price of our online hampers include delivery to mainland UK addresses. Hampers can be delivered locally by us or by courier to mainland UK addresses. Courier charge applies. If you would like to collect the hamper directly from our Inverurie shop then please give us a call on 01467 621389.

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