competition Archives - Ice Cream Alliance

Is your Ice Cream Parlour the Best in the UK?

1 March, 2023
Ice Cream Alliance
ICA News, Ice Cream Alliance, Ice Cream and Artisan Food Show, Parlour of the Year

The Ice Cream Alliance (ICA) has re-launched* the UK’s first competition to find the best Ice Cream Parlour of the Year and the main sponsor is www.antonelli.co.uk. It is open to all parlours in the UK (not just ICA members) as long they are registered as a Food Business with the Local Authority or Food Standards Authority.

The winner will receive a Trophy, significant local and national PR coverage and £500 voucher for Antonelli Bros products.

To enter just complete the Entry Form and send us a short video. Full details and the Entry Form can be found here.

Entrants will be judged, for instance on their…

Premises
Machinery
Equipment
Utensils
Working Practices
Hygiene Standards
Allergen Information
Packaging Type
Management Controls
Ice Cream Quality
Display

All entrants will be appraised by a team of experienced judges who will produce a shortlist of six finalists. These shortlisted parlours will be visited by an independent and professional mystery shopper.

The closing date for entries is 31^st March 2023. The winner will be announced at the end of May 2023.

Entry costs are £249 (ex VAT) for ICA members and £349 (ex VAT) for non-members.

Additionally further information on Antonelli visit: www.antonelli.co.uk

For further information on the ICA and Parlour of the Year, click h ere

Ice Cream Parlour of the Year was originally launched in February 2020 but wasas a result postponed because of the COVID 19 pandemic.

ICE CREAM AWARD: HEXHAM WOMAN SCOOPS ICE CREAM INDUSTRY’S RISING STAR AWARD

17 February, 2023
Ice Cream Alliance
Guido Morelli Award, ICA News, Ice Cream and Artisan Food Show

Zoe Philipson, 30, of Tyne Valley Ices in Hexham, has scooped the national ‘Guido Morelli Rising Star’ award from the Ice Cream Alliance, the trade body for the UK’s £1.4 bn per year ice cream industry.

“This is utterly mind-blowing,” exclaimed Zoe. “To be nominated by unknown individuals from within the industry for something I consider ‘the norm’ is unreal. It definitely has not sunk in yet but having people I look up to congratulate me will be something I will always remember.”

Tyne Valley Ices was established in 1974 and Zoe has been involved full-time since finishing her A levels about 12 years ago. She spent her childhood summers watching her parents grow the business and relished helping out at events. “It was truly idyllic, a child’s dream,” added Zoe.

Tyne Valley Ices is a rural business based in Northumberland which ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to the ice cream industry. It is a manufacturer, wholesaler and ice cream van operator. “We love seeing our products being enjoyed while out and about and sharing experiences with other local businesses. We manufacture our very own ice cream by retaining many original techniques and principles created at the start in 1974 along with a vast modern range of topping sauces which we ship out nationally and internationally.”

For more information on Tyne Valley Ices visit: www.facebook.com/tynevalleyices/ and @tynevalleyices

The Guido Morelli Rising Star award is announced annually by the Ice Cream Alliance (ICA), the UK’s ice cream industry trade association. The Rising Star award was created in 2014 in memory of ICA’s Past President, Guido Morelli, a member of the family that runs the world-famous Irish ice cream company. It recognises young talent, or someone new to the industry, who is going to make their mark.

“Zoe Philipson is a very worthy winner of one of the most prestigious awards in the ice cream industry,” commented Zelica Carr, ICA CEO. “She has had some stunning successes already and we wait to see her career and business grow, develop and thrive into the future.”

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A picture of celebrity chef Gennaro Contaldo

Introducing Celebrity Chef Gennaro Contaldo

24 January, 2023
Ice Cream Alliance
ICA News, Ice Cream and Artisan Food Show

Book Signing

Gennaro will have a book signing at our next Ice Cream and Artisan Food Show 2023 on Wednesday 8th February 2023. More details to follow soon.

You must register for tickets to attend the show, click here to register for tickets.

We’re pleased to be welcoming back celebrity chef Gennaro Contaldo to the Ice Cream and Artisan Food show in 2023, as well as being our very special guest at the ICA Awards Night Dinner! We, like many of you, have grown fond of Gennaro and are excited to see him again in Harrogate in February.

Celebrity chef, Gennaro Contaldo is widely known as the Italian legend, and is one of the UK’s best-loved chefs, as well as being the author of a dozen best-selling Italian recipe books. Born in Minori on the Amalfi Coast, Gennaro’s quintessentially Italian spirit and positive nature has made him a TV favourite. He regularly appears on Saturday Kitchen as well as his own TV show, the highly successful Two Greedy Italians, BBC2.
“The man cooks like an angel — and no ordinary angel’.”

Matthew Norman, Sunday Telegraph Gennaro has worked in some of London’s most popular restaurants, such as the late Antonio Carluccio’s ‘Neal Street Restaurant’. In 1999 he opened his own restaurant ‘Passione’ in Charlotte Street, London, which was awarded Best Italian restaurant in 2005. His first cookbook, ‘Passione’, published by Headline in 2003, won Best Italian Cook Book 2003 at the World Gourmand Cookbook
Awards and was shortlisted for the André Simon Award. He has since written many other books on Italian cooking. Gennaro’s Italian Bakery was published by Pavilion in 2016 and we’re delighted to announce that
a new edition of Gennaro’s first recipe book, ‘Passione’ is available now on Amazon.

Celebrity chef, Gennaro starred in ‘Jamie Cooks Italy‘, a culinary tour that explores favourite foods from some of the world’s favourite destinations, and In November 2021, he and Jamie were awarded the prestigious Stella della solidarietà italiana – Order of the Star of Italy – at the Italian Embassy. The honour recognises “outstanding contribution” to the preservation and promotion of Italian culture abroad.

Celebrity chef, Gennaro is a brand ambassador for Parmigiano Reggiano and Birra Moretti and works with Italian holiday company Citalia, helping promote the best of Italian food and travel to his beloved Italy. His latest book, ‘Gennaro’s Limoni’ published by Pavilion, is a foodie’s must, celebrating and sharing Gennaro’s love of lemons, Italy’s favourite fruit, and recipes that they star in.

When he’s not writing and teaching masterclasses at Jamie’s cooking school, he spends time relaxing and cooking with his family at their cottage in Norfolk (available for holiday rentals to foodies and their friends) and scouring Italy for new delights to share with his readers.

Book Signing

Mobiler of the Year 2023 – New Sponsor Ice Cream Direct, Soft Ice Creams

Calling all ICA Mobilers!

Entry for Mobiler of the Year 2023 is now open!

Mobiler of the Year is a fantastic opportunity to market your business and raise your profile but don’t just take it from us, here is what some of our previous winners had to say:

“Since the award I have had more media attention than in the last forty years as a mobiler”

“I’ve noticed new people on the round coming out and congratulating us on winning and then buying an ice cream at the same time”

“We have been getting a lot more bookings from new companies and event organisers”

“Even from just reaching the final you will see the rewards”

Main Sponsor

Soft Ice Cream

We are delighted to announce this year we have a new sponsor for this prestigious mobiling competition Ice Cream Direct.Ice Cream Direct are a well-established company providing national coverage for Kelly’s Dairy Soft Ice Cream Mix, their own Softee Whip brands and other ice cream mixes and have been a supporter of Ice Cream Alliance for many years.

“We are proud to sponsor the 2023 Mobiler of the Year competition, providing us with the opportunity to support and celebrate the Great British tradition of mobiling and the dedicated people within the industry”.

Rules

You have to be an ICA member
You must be available for an interview at the Expo, should you reach the finals
Last year’s winner and anyone from the same company cannot enter

How to Enter

Please contact Kashif via email at kashif@ice-cream.org or call on 01332 203333 to register your interest and arrange to pay your entry fee which is £99.00 plus VAT. Once you have paid your fee, a link to a SharePoint folder will be given for you to send your entry form and supporting documents to us.

Contact Details
- Name
- Business Name
- Membership Number
- Address
- Telephone Number
- Email
Entrant’s trading history (For example how you began and how long you have been running)
Usual round worked by entrant (You can include specific venues)
Brief description of Vehicle used
What are the entrant’s thoughts on mobiling?
How does the entrant promote themselves and the UK industry?

Please include a maximum of 20 photos (especially of you in/with your vehicle/s) and any evidence of activities (such as news articles, charity events etc).

Your application must be submitted to the ICA’s SharePoint folder account by 4.00p.m on Friday 25^th November 2022. The link will be sent to you in due course.

How does the judging process work?

All applications will be reviewed and narrowed down to three finalists by the ICA Board of Directors during the December Board Meeting. The finalists will be notified of their entry into the final stage of the competition in mid-December.

All three finalists will attend an interview at the Ice Cream & Artisan Food Show on Wednesday 8^th February 2023 in Harrogate. During this interview you will be asked to present your portfolio and several relevant questions regarding your role, which will be sent to you in advance.

What will I gain from winning this competition?

The winner will be announced at the ICA Award Night Dinner on Wednesday 8^th February at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Harrogate. You will be awarded a silver trophy and certificate
Given valuable publicity in regional and national press through our PR partners
Standard ICA membership (worth £242)
£1000 of product from our main sponsor Ice Cream Direct
Opportunity to write four articles in our ‘Ice Cream’ magazine
Runner up and 3^rd place winners will also be awarded at the ICA Award Night with a trophy and certificate.

*All finalists receive digital artwork*

Please note, due to COVID 19 – dates and judging location indicated are subject to change. The ICA reserves the right to delay judging and therefore amend the dates associated with it, according to Government advice.

DOWNLOAD RULES AND HOW TO ENTER

Harrogate Ice Cream Van Man Wins Gold

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

John Taylor from ice cream van business C and M Ices in Harrogate has won a Gold Medal for his fantastic Mr Whippy ice cream 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 which has been running for 76 years.

“Winning this award, especially given the unusual situation we all find ourselves in, was a massive surprise,” exclaimed John. “I am not often lost for words but the moment it was announced I was literally speechless. As an ice cream van operator you can’t get a much more prestigious award, and it proves to everyone we put quality products as a core part of our trading.”

C and M Ices was established in 1889 and remains a family business. John is the 4th generation and has been working in ice cream vans since he left school (over 25 years ago). John can be found in one of his vans pitched outside the Victoria Shopping Centre in Harrogate most days, weather permitting. He also has a van in the Coach Street car park in Skipton on market days. John and his team also cater for events and weddings.

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 John,” added Zelica. “There was very stiff competition in all the categories so to win gold is a very 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 C and M Ices visit: www.harrogateicecream.co.uk

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

*The ICA surveyed members in March 2021

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.

“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.”

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