Our Team

Fiona has been involved in the company for decades but from the time Gordon became ill, she became much more active until Alistair Melrose joined the company. A former director of Caledonia Potatoes, Fiona is committed to maintaining the reputation of the company established by the Smillie family and to that end, she supports Alistair in the continued development and on going re-investment in the company to improve efficiencies and services to J & E Smillie customers, both home and abroad.

As the Commercial Director, Alistair Melrose oversees the daily operations of our seed potato business, ensuring smooth and efficient functioning. Beyond his managerial role, Alistair plays a pivotal part in our Caledonia breeding program, collaborating closely with Dr. Finlay Dale and Robert Doig to drive innovation and excellence in potato cultivation. With a passion for agriculture and a wealth of experience, Alistair is dedicated to upholding our commitment to quality and sustainability in every aspect of our business.

At the heart of our operations, Fiona MacKinnon serves as our Office Manager, meticulously overseeing the seamless functioning of our administrative processes. Her responsibilities span across finance, export documentation, and potato sales administration, ensuring every aspect of the office runs smoothly. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to efficiency, Fiona plays a key role in supporting the day-to-day activities that contribute to the success of our seed potato business. Her dedication ensures that our administrative backbone is robust, allowing us to focus on delivering quality products and services to our valued customers.

In the realm of variety assessment and trialling, Dr. Finlay Dale is our expert at the helm. With a keen eye for innovation, Finlay oversees the meticulous evaluation of new potato varieties. His responsibilities extend to coordinating our variety demos and trialling program across multiple sites, ensuring a comprehensive and insightful approach to agricultural research. Driven by a passion for advancing potato cultivation, Finlay's expertise plays a crucial role in shaping the success of our seed potato farm.

Heading our field production efforts, Fraser Melrose takes charge of his own growing program and oversees the marketing of seed and ware potatoes, both cultivated on-site and sourced from contract growers. With a keen focus on precision and a deep understanding of the agricultural landscape, Fraser plays a vital role in ensuring the success of our potato farming operations. His dedication to optimising production processes and promoting our quality products reflects our commitment to excellence in the seed potato industry.

Welcoming Catriona Struthers, our enthusiastic Production/Contracts Assistant, who has recently joined the Smillie's family. In her current role, Catriona is immersing herself in all facets of our business, contributing her skills and dedication to our dynamic team. With a background as a former PB field inspector, Catriona brings valuable experience to her position, particularly in the crucial task of monitoring our growing crops during the summer months. As she continues to learn and grow within Smillie's, Catriona's passion for agriculture and her expertise will undoubtedly play a key role in our ongoing success.

Collaborating with Fraser, Robert Aitken takes the lead in managing the Ruthvenfield store and supervises all aspects of our in-house growing program. From the initial stages of planting to meticulous storage, grading, and dispatch operations, Robert ensures seamless coordination at every step. His hands-on approach and attention to detail contribute significantly to the success of our potato cultivation endeavors. With a comprehensive understanding of the entire process, Robert is instrumental in maintaining the highest standards of quality and efficiency within our operations.