The brand is strengthening its ice cream offering with the launch of Fruit Hoops, a new ice lolly, made with real fruit juice and an extension to its premium Rapture range with Rapture ice cream tubs – replicating the most popular Rapture stick flavours, Honeycomb and Sea Salted Caramel in 460ml tubs format, with substantial inclusions and toppings.

Fully HFSS compliant, Fruit Hoops are available in both impulse-buy single lollies and multipack formats. Aimed at a family market, Fruit Hoops are made with real fruit juice and no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. This new line builds on Dale Farm’s dominant position in ice cream, where together with partner brands, it holds 65% share of the Northern Ireland impulse market*.

In response to growing demand for luxury at-home desserts, as more people switch from eating out to eating in, Dale Farm has also extended its decadent Rapture range with the introduction of ice cream tubs, perfect for an indulgent treat. The 460ml tubs are available in two flavours – Honeycomb and Sea Salted Caramel – both of which were recognised at the Ice Cream Alliance awards with a diploma and special diploma of merit.

Claire Hale, Dale Farm, said: “Dale Farm is dedicated to working with retailers across Northern Ireland to deliver the range, quality and value to maximise ice cream category performance. We are excited to bring these four new products to the market and further enhance our ice cream portfolio.

“Fruit Hoops are the ultimate refreshing treat, available for on-the-go impulse lolly lovers and as a multipack for family freezers. Fruit Hoops have been developed as a fun, novelty, value-for-money offering, made with real fruit juice and no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. Therefore, a perfect guilt free treat, for little & large hands alike.

“We are also delighted to launch our first ice cream tubs into our luxury, premium Rapture range. Rapture ice cream tubs have been developed in response to global ice cream trends for indulgent at-home desserts. They are perfect for those seeking affordable comfort as people reduce spend on eating out, opting for eating in and at-home treats.”

Claire concluded: “This Spring will see us launch impactful, targeted, fully integrated marketing campaigns to support our new product launches, building upon the success of our ‘Favourites’ campaign, which was recognised as ‘Best Marketing Campaign’ at the 2023 Women in Business Awards.”

Fruit Hoops and Rapture ice cream tubs are now available in participating retailers across Northern Ireland.

*Source: NielsenIQ Scantrack Northern Ireland Ice Cream, Unit sales, MAT 52 weeks ending 10/09/22

The post Dale Farm launches new products this spring first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Halfords’ expert teams at its 750 outlets are providing 5-point vehicle checks and maintenance follow-ups to make sure ice cream vans are in tip top shape ahead of what promises to be a bumper year for British getaways.

The free vehicle check is available to all ice cream van operators in the UK (you do not need to be a member of the ICA). Just click on this link and follow the steps: https://blog.halfords.com/want-a-flake-with-that-halfords-%20launches-free%20-ice-cream-van-check/

In Halfords own research, 87 per cent of the population plan to holiday at home this year. Another 45 per cent have already got something booked, while 24 per cent are stay-cationing for the first time in years.

Staycation 21

According to Halford’s ‘Staycation 21 Report’, enjoying an ice cream by the sea is one of the top ten staycation holiday experiences (along with eating fish and chips and feeling sand between the toes).

“We are delighted to have the support of top British brand Halfords,” commented ICA CEO Zelica Carr. “It is a real and valuable boost to the ice cream van sector to have such support from the nationwide maintenance and repair specialist. Along with other parts of the hospitality sector, ice cream vans have had a challenging 18 months. Our Great British Ice Cream Staycation campaign, launched back in March, was created to support ice cream vans and parlours get back on their feet and make the most of a positive trading environment in the summer of 2021. Halfords support is the cherry on the cake – or should I say 99 in the ice cream cone.”

Free vehicle checks

Halford’s Group Marketing Director, Lisa Bond said: “We’re really proud to be teaming up with the Ice Cream Alliance to help them continue doing what they do best – support the ice cream sector. After all, summer wouldn’t be summer without an ice cream or two!”

The Ice Cream Alliance (ICA), the UK’s trade association for the ice cream sector, mobilised its members, the wider industry and other parts of the hospitality sector to promote their products to all those holidaying in the country this summer. The campaign is called the Great British Ice Cream Staycation and 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

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

www.ice-cream.org

The post Halford’s team up with the Ice Cream Alliance first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Jimmy Robinson, owner of Robinsons Ice Cream in Craigavon has won Ice Cream Van of the Year 2021 – the first time the title has come to Northern Ireland.

The competition is held every year by the trade association for the ice cream sector for the UK and Ireland – the Ice Cream Alliance.

Jimmy has three vans and three trailers operating in and around Craigavon, Portadown and Lurgan and in parks in Lisburn and Belfast. He is the first winner from the island of Ireland in the 43 years of the competition.

 Fantastic honour

“This is an absolutely fantastic honour and I’m delighted,” exclaimed Jimmy. “I have spent 36 years running and growing this business and all the hard work had paid off. And it’s a family effort with both my sons, my wife Carmel and my brother-in-law all working with me.”

 Third generation

Jimmy is the third generation of his family to sell ice cream. It started in the 1950s when his grandmother Cora arrived in Northern Ireland from Lucca in Tuscany to make and sell her ice cream. In the 1960s his father (also called Jimmy) took the business over followed by his brother Michael. Today he employs 11 people, both full and part time.

Since 1985

Jimmy was a full-time Irish International table tennis player and coach when in 1985 his father persuaded to him to change direction. “Dad helped me buy a CF Bedford van for £800 and we turned it into a makeshift ice cream van with a pop on roof and old fridge. I still remember my first day out and how much I loved it, being my own boss. I even remember, my takings of £76, and thinking this was great.”

Covid-proof

“Promoting Robinson’s Ice Cream is very important to me It’s been more important than ever with Covid-19. We were was one of the first operators in Northern Ireland to Covid-proof our entire operation to ensure the safety of staff and customers with the erection of screens, providing PPE to staff, and ensuring social distancing at our park sites with the inclusion of hand sanitizing stations. Winning Ice Cream Van of the Year makes all that hard work worthwhile.”

The post Northern Ireland takes Ice Cream Van of the Year title for the first time in 43 years first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.