Wick man’s innovative ice-cream for cancer patients recognised with creative excellence award
An entrepreneur from Wick has been honoured with one of the world’s most respected creative accolades.
Alan Mackenzie, co-founder of Scottish health and wellness brand My Doctor’s Recipe, has been recognised on the global stage at the 2025 D&AD Awards, after the brand’s flagship product Nutri-Ice was honoured with a prestigious Future Impact Pencil – a symbol of creative excellence in the industry.
The award recognises the innovation and potential of Nutri-Ice, a frozen nutritional supplement designed to support cancer patients undergoing treatment.
The idea was born out of Alan’s own devastating experience of losing his wife, Alison, to cancer in 2016.
“Alison couldn’t tolerate traditional nutritional drinks - they tasted synthetic and made her feel worse,” says Alan. “The only thing she could manage was ice cream.
“After she died, I became determined to change that experience for others.
“To be recognised by the D&AD Awards is a huge honour – they are known for spotlighting ideas that truly make a difference.
“This started from a very personal place after losing Alison, and it’s overwhelming to think that something made in her memory is now winning international recognition and helping others through the hardest times.”
Alan channelled his grief into action, working alongside his business partners, Alison’s oncologist Dr Jon Krell and chef Alan Rosenthal to create Nutri-Ice - an innovative prescriptible nutritional supplement that looks and tastes like real ice cream, while delivering a powerful dose of calories, protein, and essential nutrients.
The award-winning campaign, known as Creamotherapy, was created in partnership with Havas Lynx and celebrates the product’s ability to bring dignity, joy and better nutrition to patients who often struggle to eat due to side effects like mouth ulcers, nausea, or loss of appetite.
The D&AD Future Impact Pencil celebrates creative ideas with real-world potential for change.
Nutri-Ice was praised for reimagining food as part of treatment and for addressing the shocking statistic that 1 in 5 cancer patients die from malnutrition.
Now handmade in Kent in collaboration with Simply Ice Cream, the product is already in use across more than ten UK hospitals and is set to continue expanding into healthcare settings.
Alan added: “To see something created in Alison’s memory now winning global awards and helping patients through their most difficult moments is incredibly emotional.
“This is just the beginning – we want to get Nutri-Ice to every patient who needs it.”