AN AYR-BASED salt distributor is celebrating a milestone moment after 150 years of family-owned success.

J.C. Peacock, creator of the Blackthorn Salt brand, is the UK's largest salt distributor, and is based in Ayr's North Harbour.

Gregorie Marshall, the fifth-generation managing director, has just steered the company into its 150th anniversary.

The milestone was celebrated with a circus-themed salt-inspired festival hosted for Peacock’s 88-strong team and their families.  

The business was founded by his great-great grandfather in 1874, with the company surviving multiple wars and the second industrial revolution.

After its establishment as an international shipping business, it survived shipwrecks, prohibition, and a run-in with the Mafia – tales of which have been passed down by Gregorie’s predecessors.

(Image: Contributed) Throughout all the trials faced during the 19th and 20th centuries, the company was ever-committed to excellence, with a firm focus on supporting the communities it served. 

Gregorie said: “150 years is no mean feat! We are thrilled, but it is down to the foresight and adaptability of those who went before and the diligence and support of the incredible employees who are now with the business.

"We are all so proud to be able to play a role in the enduring story of J.C. Peacock and its tremendous legacy and are looking forward to the future with both excitement and trepidation.”  

The modern-day J.C.Peacock ships more than 200,000 tonnes of salt annually and distributes it to more than 40,000 destinations across the UK.

The business has recently acquired water softening specialists Firenze in April 2024, allowing Peacock to expand its presence in the south of England.

It also added Peacock Turfscape to its portfolio in 2022, which provides a range of landscaping materials including locally grown turf from Paisley.  

Working with wife and business partner Whirly Marshall, the duo also created Blackthorn Salt in 2019, bringing something new to the Scottish culinary scene as well as its landscape with the addition of an innovative Blackthorn graduation tower at Peacock Salt’s HQ in Ayr.

The only one of its kind in the world, it creates artisan sea salt from the waters of the Firth of Clyde. 

The company has set ambitious eco targets, has a culture that seeks to support employees and their families, and actively engages in local projects and charity initiatives.

In the last few years, the group has upgraded facilities for South Ayrshire Autistic Society and supported a local retreat for families caring for children with cancer.  

Gregorie added: "We believe that the future is as important as the past. As we embark on the next 150 years, we remain committed to innovation, excellence, and making a positive impact on our community.

"That’s what will drive our strategy for the future as we aim to increase and diversify our market share, and secure a greener, sustainable future for the company and its employees."