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THE

NATIONAL ICE CREAM

Competition 2024

WHAT IS THE NATIONAL ICE CREAM Competition?

This is the ‘Oscars’ of UK ice cream competitions.  It has been held every year since 1953, is the most prestigious event in our sector and is judged blind by experts from the ice cream world.

It is the place to showcase your talent, receive valuable product feedback and unlock the business growth potential of being part of the biggest and best ice cream championship.

Winners – and there are eleven opportunities to win – receive FREE consumer PR that can really put your business on the map.

BENEFITS of Entering

Each Class winner receives:-

  • Publicity across all media – TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, websites
  • Publicity that will raise your profile and can boost turnover
  • Trophies and certificates to showcase within your business
  • Winners’ photos for use in your Social Media and wherever else appropriate
Ball23 HR (315 of 249)

TESTIMONIALS FROM PREVIOUS WINNERS

Winner 1
“The publicity we got for winning resulted in a fantastic year – turnover was up and we saw lots of new faces at the parlour.”

Sue Richards – Minoli’s of Machen/Basil of Rusty’s, 2022 winner.

Winner 2
“Equi’s Ice Cream are a 3 times winner of the UK National Ice cream Competition – Champion of Champion’s award. This is by far the most prestigious award in the industry and it is a tremendous honour for all at Equi’s.

Since winning these awards and buoyed on by the resultant publicity, our company has gone from strength to strength. We now supply from small convenience stores to major multinationals and the likes of Gleneagles Hotel. ”

David Equi – Equi’s Ice Cream

THIS YEAR'S ICE CREAM Competition CLASSES

  • Newcomer – Vanilla: This Class are for those who are new to the industry and have not worked in the ice cream business before.
  • Soft Serve Ice Cream Class – Vanilla: This Class is open to everyone.
  • Supply House Class – Caramelised Biscuit: This Class is only open to Supply House Exhibitors who book for the 2024 expo.
  • 1st Sorbet Class – Lemon: This Class can be produced in either a batch freezer or a continuous freezer. The sorbet must be produced from basic ingredients
  • 1st Flavour Class – Strawberry: This Class can be produced in either a batch freezer or a continuous freezer. The ice cream must be produced from basic ingredients. The product can either be dairy-based fat, vegetable-derived fat or any combination of both.
  • 2nd Flavour Class – Chocolate: This Class can be produced in either a batch freezer or a continuous freezer. The ice cream must be produced from basic ingredients. The product can either be dairy-based fat, vegetable-derived fat or any combination of both.
  • Open Flavour Class – This Class is for innovative Ice Cream – Two Entries are allowed for this Class, each entry is chargeable
  • Alternative Class – This Class is to allow further innovation and diversity, to reflect the changing and new markets in the ice cream industry. Two Entries are allowed for this Class, each entry is chargeable.
  • Dairy Ice Cream Class – Vanilla: This Class must be made from basic ingredients and not pre-made blends purchased from alternative suppliers.
  • Ice Cream Class – Vanilla: This Class can be produced in either a batch freezer or a continuous freezer. The ice cream must be produced from basic ingredients. The product must be made primarily of vegetable-based fat.
  • Open Ice Cream Class – Vanilla: This Class is to showcase innovation, with marks given for originality
  • NEW – Chef’s Class: This newest Class is to recognise the creativity of UK chefs – and any qualified chef or someone studying to be a chef can enter. The product must be dairy-based. Two Entries are allowed for this Class, each entry is chargeable

CHEF CLASS

We are delighted to announce the return of the Chef’s Class.

This newest class is to recognise the creativity of UK chefs – and any qualified chef or someone studying to be a chef can enter.

Product entered must be dairy-based but can be sweet or savoury.  For full rules and cost of entry click below.

How to Enter

Entry for the competition will be live on our website. Fill out all the classes you wish to enter and a confirmation email will be sent once completed. Pots and all the relevant information on how to send and fill them will be sent within 10 working days of your entry.

CLICK TO REGISTER
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Scoring

Our robust scoring system is broken down into constituent parts that are collated together to give a fair and well-rounded score of your entry. Scoring is split into the categories of appearance (10 points), texture (20 points) and flavour (70 points). These three categories are weighed by importance and added together to give a score of 100 points. Comments are provided by each judge to give competitors actionable feedback to help improve their products.

Judging

All samples are judged blind. Judges will not have entered the class they are adjudicating.  All judges will have relevant industry experience, with materials and information provided to each judge to ensure a standardised and professional judging process. Supervisors with expert knowledge will be on hand throughout the process as a precautionary measure to ensure high judging quality. Rejudging of certain entries will occur to ensure standardised scoring and definitive winners.

Awarding

There are many different awards that can be achieved as an entrant. There are your standard bronze, silver and gold. With class winners entering Best of Flavour, Best of Vanilla and subsequent winners of the prior two awards being entered into the Champion of Champions. Aside from medallists and winners, there is an opportunity to achieve Diplomas, Diplomas of Merit and Special Diplomas of merit, giving entrants great marketing opportunities should they not place in their respective classes. Awarding of diplomas and medals is dictated by the Derek Bailey Rule. This rule states that if an entrant’s total score is 94%+ of the total winning score of the class then an entrant must receive a form of award. The top 10% of this group of entrants will medal and a Special Diploma of Merit, the next 30% must receive a Diploma of Merit and the final 60% must receive a Diploma.

Post-Competition Awards Dinner

All medallists and winners will be announced at the ICA Awards Dinner. All class winners will be given PR support with artwork of their diplomas and certificates provided to recipients of any award type.

The ICA Awards Dinner will take place on Wednesday 7th February 2024, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Harrogate.

If you would like to attend the Awards Dinner, please EMAIL US to book your place.

Book early to avoid disappointment!

REGISTER TO ENTER 2024 COMPETITION

This National Ice Cream Competition is open to ALL registered ice cream manufacturers, whether or not they are members of the Ice Cream Alliance (the organising body).  The new Chefs Class, launched in partnership with the Craft Guild of Chefs, is open to all qualified chefs and anyone studying to be a chef in the UK.

Entrants into the new Chefs Class and the existing Soft Serve and Supply House Classes are not required to be registered with their Local Authority or Food Standards Authority (UK only).

However, to be eligible to enter all the other Classes of the National Ice Cream Competition, entrants must confirm that they are registered as a Food Business with your Local Authority or Food Standards Authority (UK only).

  • https://www.gov.uk/food-business-registration and/or  https://www.gov.uk/food-premises-approval
    • or, for FSA-approved exceptions, must have local authority approval in the UK)
    • or registered for food production with a competent authority in their country (if outside the UK) prior to the date of the competition.
  • Companies that are manufacturers that are not registered will be unable to enter samples into the National Ice Cream Competition.
  • No refunds can be given for disqualified entries.
  • Only 1 entry will be allowed for registered manufacturers in each of the following classes: Ice Cream Class, Dairy Ice Cream Class, Open Ice Cream Class, Sorbet Class, 1st Flavour Class, 2nd Flavour Class, Soft Serve or Newcomer.
  • 2 entries will be allowed for the Chef’s Class, Open Flavour Class and the Alternative Classes, (fees apply for both entries i.e. 1 entry – £162 ex VAT, 2 entries – £324 ex VAT).
CLICK TO REGISTER

PREVIOUS WINNERS & RESULTS

Click the links below to download the PDFs.

COMPETITION FAQs

A: Fill in the form and register for the National Ice Cream Competition. Closing date Friday 17th November 2023 by 4pm.

CLICK TO REGISTER

A: ICA Members: entries will be £81.00 + VAT per entry, plus a £10.00 + VAT fee per sample for those entrants that wish to drop off their samples at a collection point.

20% ‘Early Bird Discount is available for ICA members only when you enter before Friday 20th October 2023 by 4pm.

Non – Members: entries will be £162 + VAT per entry, plus a £10.00 + VAT fee per sample for those entrants that wish to drop their samples at a collection point.

A: The closing date for the competition is Friday 17th November 2023 by 4pm.

GET IN TOUCH

01332 203 333

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