ICA-Admin, Author at Ice Cream Alliance

Pinks Ice Cream Parlour Scoops Prestigious Ice Cream Awards

9 June, 2021
ICA-Admin
ICA News, National Ice Cream Championships

Pinks Parlour, Waterloo Square, Bognor Regis has won three awards at the National Ice Cream Championships 2021 run by the Ice Cream Alliance (ICA), the sector’s UK trade association. Their Vegan Pina Colada and Pistachio flavours beat all comers in this, the most prestigious ice cream competition in the country which has been running for 76 years.

“I’m so delighted to have won,” exclaimed Katy Alston, owner and founder. “When we first opened we could only offer ice lollies to our customers who were dairy intolerant. Now we have won an award for our Vegan Pina Colada!” Katy added: “Bognor Regis is a wonderful place full of lovely people and we’re honoured to be making our wonderful homemade gelato ice cream for them.”

Former ice cream van maestro Katy decided to expand in 2019 by opening her first parlour investing in the newest equipment to make the finest gelato ice cream they could. They learned best practice and recipes from both their colleagues in the ICA and their travels round Italy. Just two years later Katy and son Henri and the team are winning awards.

The championships are normally held at the Ice Cream and Artisan Food Show in Harrogate and hundreds of products are submitted across thirteen categories. Because of the pandemic this show was cancelled.

“The ICA decided that despite lockdowns and severe restrictions on trading we needed to show our sectors resilience by continuing with these annual awards,” commented Zelica Carr, ICA CEO. “I want to thank all those who entered and our dedicated panel of judges who tasted the entries and selected winners in a socially distanced and Covid secure procedure at our head office.”

“Congratulations to Katy and her team,” added Zelica. “There was very stiff competition in all the categories so to win three times is a big achievement.”

Ice cream parlours and ice cream vans have been hard hit in this pandemic losing a total of £289million in income in 2020*. That is just the tip of the iceberg when you add lost ice cream sales in cafes, restaurants and hotels and the economic impact to businesses along the supply chain – manufacturers, flavour houses, wholesalers and others. That is why the ICA has launched Great British Ice Cream Staycation campaign, in which Pinks Parlour is participating, to support ice cream sales in the hospitality sector.

For more information on Pinks Parlour visit: www.pinksparlour.co.uk

For more information on the ICA visit: www.ice-cream.org

*The ICA surveyed members in March 2021

Scottish Company Scoops Best Ice Cream in UK Award

9 June, 2021
ICA-Admin
ICA News, National Ice Cream Championships

Mancini’s of Ayr has been voted the best ice cream manufacturer in the UK at the National Ice Cream Championships 2021 run by the Ice Cream Alliance, the sector’s UK trade association. Mancini’s vanilla ice cream was voted ‘best of the best’ in this, the most prestigious ice cream competition in the country which has been running for 76 years.

“It’s a wonderful thing to win this championship. Winning the lottery can’t feel better than this,” exclaimed managing director Filippo Mancini. “We are always trying to improve our products and keep our standards the highest we can. The competition is judged by a panel of experts drawn from the industry who taste product from the best ice cream makers in the business. That makes winning even more special.”

For 106 years four generations of the Mancini family have been making and selling award winning ice-cream from the Royal Cafe in Ayr. The company also supplies events – including their famous ice cream weddings – and has just opened a new parlour, Mancini’s @ the beach on Prestwick seafront.

“Congratulations to Filippo and his team at Mancini’s,” added Zelica. “There was very stiff competition, but Mancini’s manages to combine the very best of ingredients, with skill and tried and tested recipes – and the results speak for themselves.”

Ice cream parlours and ice cream vans have been hard hit in this pandemic losing a total of £289million in income in 2020*. That is just the tip of the iceberg when you add lost ice cream sales in cafes, restaurants and hotels and the economic impact to businesses along the supply chain – manufacturers, flavour houses, wholesalers and others. That is why the ICA has launched Great British Ice Cream Staycation campaign, in which Mancini’s of Ayr is participating, to support ice cream sales in the hospitality sector.

For more information on Mancini’s of Ayr visit: www.mancinisicecream.co.uk

For more information on the ICA visit: www.ice-cream.org

Matthew Dobson, Guido Morelli Winner

20 April, 2021
ICA-Admin
Uncategorized

Congratulations Matthew Dobson, Arran Ice Cream.

Matthew has worked in the family business on and off for around 8 years, starting on weekends and holidays from school. After finishing high school on the Isle of Arran, he went off to University in Glasgow to study sports therapy, and completed his study at The University of Cumbria in Carlisle. After another stint in the business to save up some money, Matthew spent time travelling in Thailand, New Zealand and Australia.

On returning to Scotland, Matthew came back into the business and decided that we wanted to make his career in the ice cream industry. Learning on the job, Matthew has worked his way up through the company and has gained a wealth of knowledge from colleagues and peers in the ice cream industry.

In his current role as Production Manager, Matthew has played a vital role in Arran Ice Cream’s growth, working through a complete factory refurbishment and more recently leading the company through a total rebrand.

He can often be found trying out a new recipe or bespoke flavour and is always willing to give a tour of the small factory to give customers a better insight into the process of creating the award-winning ice cream.

Matthew’s most recent project is working as part of a team to open an ice cream parlour in his hometown of Brodick, on the Isle of Arran. This is the first of its kind on the island and is set to be a great success.

ICA Working Hard to Save Our Sector

‘The Great British Ice Cream Staycation – ice cream smiles, today, tomorrow and always’

We are mobilising our members, the wider industry and other parts of the hospitality sector to promote their products to all those holidaying in the country this summer. Our campaign, The Great British Ice Cream Staycation, is encouraging businesses of all types and sizes to get involved. A free, downloadable DIY Marketing Toolkit is available now at www.ice-cream.org/webform/great-british-ice-cream-staycation

“Ice cream parlours and ice cream vans have been hard hit in this pandemic losing a total of £289 million in income in 2020*,” comments ICA CEO Zelica Carr. “And that’s just the tip of the iceberg when you add lost ice cream sales in cafes, restaurants and hotels and the economic impact to businesses along the supply chain – manufacturers, flavour houses, wholesalers and many others.”

The Great British Ice Cream Staycation campaign is all about reminding people what a delicious, fun, happy and affordable treat ice cream is and what iconic childhood memories it generates. Of course, it is also about supporting our members and the ice cream industry to safeguard their survival.

“This campaign is not about dictating to businesses how to market their products,” adds Zelica Carr. “It’s about harnessing everyone’s creative flair and dynamism and providing them with the tools – across digital marketing, PR, influencer marketing, POS – to maximise sales and bounce back from a truly horrid twelve months. We are providing marketing materials, guides and templates free to everyone who wants it – not just to ICA members.”

The ICA surveyed members on the effects of the pandemic on business in 2020*. It revealed that 90 ice cream parlours have closed in the last twelve months and that 800 mobilers have ceased trading over the same period. However, the governments Furlough Scheme has been a life saver for many businesses with up to 62% of staff furloughed at some point during the pandemic.

Zelica Carr concludes: “The ICA was founded just after the Second World War to promote a fledgling sector during the post-war years. The ice cream industry successfully expanded since then but has faced its biggest threat since the war from the pandemic. We felt the ICA had to play a major role in helping our sector to recover and flourish again.”

To download the FREE Great British Ice Cream Staycation DIY Marketing Toolkit or to find out how your hospitality, tourism business or trade association can get involved, visit www.ice-cream.org/webform/great-british-ice-cream-staycation

Marvin Benton Awards – Congratulations to Tony Federici

13 April, 2021
ICA-Admin
ICA News

Congratulations to Tony Federici, here we share some touching words from his Daughter.

“We are delighted that dad has been nominated for this prestigious award. He is truly the most wonderful man and father (we know we’re biased) and he has dedicated his entire life to ice cream. It’s literally in his, and now our, blood. How wonderful that we might be able to share how great he is with the world.

As a father, dad taught us many things. Family (as well as ice cream) is his heart. He taught us good values for life and business and taught us strong work ethics. He showed us the meaning of hard work and how passion and commitment are at the centre of every decision and every single thing we do. He taught us results and success come from being consistent with working hard and passion. Through his hardwork in the ice cream business, from his years on the vans and in the factory, he showed all of us that to succeed in life we must work together, support each other and share our love and successes with each other. He is the epitome of the strength of the family bond.

He was never wasteful in his manufacturing, he showed us how to be careful whilst being innovative. He strived to forge a new way, to create our own path, to find the new thing, the latest tastes, the newest production strategies and yet never to forget when we are, who we are and what we could become.

In his younger years, he was known for being Mr Charisma! He knew all the children on his van rounds and had nicknames for them all – though he called us all, his own children, Fred! People came to the van, not just for his ice cream, but for the banter. He always had a new joke (we would roll our eyes) but he’d always make people laugh. He still does – he’s the King of Dad Jokes! He is still well-known around the town and loved by everyone!”

Mobiler of the Year 2021

A massive congratulations to Jimmy Robinson, Mobiler of the Year 2021.

“I still remember my first day out in the van how much I loved it, being my own boss, I even remember, my takings of £76, & thinking this was great. I put my heart, soul, and drive into my ice cream business.

Through a lot of hard work and a lot of ups and downs over the years, with fantastic family support me through them. I am very proud to have the biggest operation in N.I. I am in my thirty-fifth year selling ice cream and am still thinking about how we can make improvements to our business”.

Is your Ice Cream Parlour the Best in the UK?

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