Fochabers Ice Cream Parlour – Chocolate Champions Again

Fochabers Ice Cream Parlour in the High Street has been crowned chocolate champion at the National Ice Cream Championships 2021 run by the Ice Cream Alliance (ICA), the sector’s UK trade association. This is the most prestigious ice cream competition in the country and has been running for 76 years. 

“We are so excited to have won – especially during these tough times,” exclaimed Sheila Gray, owner of Fochabers Ice Cream Parlour. “We’ve been closed for four months this year and we were shut for four months last year too. But this gives us a massive boost and its good for the staff – I have a great team – and good for the village.”

This award-winning ice cream establishment has been going for 11 years and employs eight people. It is renowned for its multi-award winning Chocolate Ice Cream (they have won this Gold Medal four times!). Sheila added: “I’ve never made this much chocolate ice cream ever before!”

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 Sheila and her team,” added Zelica. “There was very stiff competition in this category so to win Gold is a big achievement – and to have won this award four times is unheard of.”

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 Fochabers Ice Cream Parlour: www.fochabersicecream.co.uk

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

*The ICA surveyed members in March 2021