Kimberley MacDonald recognised for transforming matchday hospitality at Pittodrie at BaxterStorey’s People Awards.
Kimberley MacDonald, General Manager for BaxterStorey Scotland at Aberdeen Football Club’s Pittodrie Stadium, has been named Manager of the Year at the BaxterStorey People Awards, the annual celebration of talent across one of the UK’s largest independent hospitality providers.
MacDonald leads one of Scotland’s busiest sports hospitality operations, feeding up to 18,500 supporters in a 90-minute matchday window alongside corporate hospitality, events, weddings and community fundraisers at the stadium. On a matchday she oversees 250 team members and is known for knowing every one of them by name.
Under her leadership, matchday kiosk revenue at Pittodrie has nearly doubled in three seasons, and she planned and delivered the first trial of alcohol sales in the stands at a Scottish Premiership match in more than 40 years. She has championed local suppliers, replacing a Glasgow-made pie with one from an Aberdeen baker five minutes from the stadium, and built her matchday team entirely from local recruits, with no agency staff used across the 2025/26 season.
Judges also recognised her impact beyond the stadium. Kimberley leads regular food bank collections with Community Food Initiatives Northeast, organised a BaxterStorey team for the Aberdeen Kiltwalk that raised more than £1,600 for Maggie’s Aberdeen, welcomes school pupils to Pittodrie to explore careers in hospitality, and led the Bervie Gala since 2024 in her home village of Inverbervie.
MacDonald said: “I’m so proud of this award, but honestly, it belongs to my team. It’s the whole Pittodrie team, from our kiosks and hospitality to our chefs and kitchen teams, who make every matchday and event happen. Watching people join us as nervous students and grow in confidence, skills and responsibility is something I’m incredibly proud of. Being part of a club and community that mean so much to me, while seeing our people thrive, is the best part of the job.”
Mark McCulloch, managing director at BaxterStorey, said: “Kimberley leads with heart. She has raised standards across every part of the operation at Pittodrie while building a culture where young people thrive, and the trust she has earned from the club and its supporters speaks for itself.” After being named Scotland’s Manager of the Year at the BaxterStorey Scotland Awards which celebrated 22 finalists from across the country, Kimberley went on to win the Grand Final, alongside 74 Award finalists across UK and Europe.
The awards were presented on Thursday 10 September at The Pelligon in Canary Wharf, London, where 300 team members travelled from across the UK, Ireland, France and the Netherlands to celebrate. Guest judges for this year’s awards included chef and author Rinku Dutt, Jo Harley of Korero, Ed Vokes of Evolve Group and chef Jenny Chandler. Guests were also treated to a showstopping dessert, a sticky toffee chocolate mousse, created by BaxterStorey’s Chef Battle winners Domenico Papa and Maddie Clare.