Simply Ice Cream move to new production site, giving them potential to triple production by 2023

The family run ice cream business moved to the old Ouseley Dairy in Hinxhill Ashford this Summer, where they will be able to increase production of their luxurious artisan ice cream. Despite being hit hard by the pandemic, Simply Ice Cream can still be found at over 450 outlets throughout the Southeast. Having outgrown their original HQ, this new space will allow them to grow the brand further, and with the launch of franchise distribution partnerships they’ll be able to fulfil nationwide deliveries for the first time.

Alongside this, Simply Ice Cream relaunched their website in Spring to offer customers outside of the Southeast a more streamlined shopping experience, enabling them to deliver anywhere in the UK. Founder, Sally Newall, says “We’ve been working behind the scenes on our new website for some time now. When we started the business over 12 years ago we were mainly supplying to wholesale, but have now built a customer fan base across the UK who want to buy directly from us. The previous website wasn’t set up to be customer facing, so we felt it was time to give it some much needed TLC and make our online shopping experience far more consumer friendly”.

To date, the brand has been operating out of their HQ in the grounds of the family home, with a small & dedicated production team. They offer over 30 flavours of ice cream and produce bespoke flavours for some of their wholesale customers. Each tub is made with 50% double cream, giving it a luxuriously smooth and creamy texture, and many of their ingredients are sourced from other local producers. The move to Ouseley Dairy will allow them to scale up production and provide plenty of room to grow. Simply Ice Cream currently sell in to selected Waitrose, Morrisons & Co-op stores throughout the South-East, numerous independents, farm shops, cafes, ice cream parlours & hospitality venues, and plan to grow their private-label and party catering offering going forward.

Sales Manager, Beccy Bayliss, says “There is an obvious brand fit between our artisan ice cream and independent retailers and farm shops, but there is a growing demand for private label products in retail too. Being a small and nimble team, with the ability to create bespoke flavours, we’re perfectly placed to deliver own-brand ice cream and have increased production in this area of the business”.

The ice cream brand moved to the new production site at Hinxhill in early July, once all building and renovation work was complete. The 5,300 sq ft site will house all production, storage & packing facilities, as well as an office space. The old Ouseley Dairy has undergone a complete renovation in order to be ready for Simply Ice Cream to commence production.

The business currently employs 13 staff across production, sales, marketing, logistics and business management. The new production site will give them the potential to triple production capacity, increasing distribution and reach across the UK.

Alongside their traditional ice cream, Simply Ice Cream also have a vegan range and a newly launched dog ice cream – aptly named Simply Pawfection. They have over 30 flavours to choose from, including some more unique flavour combinations like Coffee & Kentish Cobnut Fudge, Stem Ginger & Marmalade and Peanut Brittle.

Simply Ice Cream were hit hard by the pandemic, with 70% of their wholesale partners closing during lockdowns. The brand used the quieter moments to overhaul their website, launch a franchise partnership scheme, locate a new production site and develop a vegan range of ice creams. Sally Newall says “We’re a small and nimble team, which enabled us to ride the wave of Covid-19 and come out the other side. It will take some time to build our sales back up to where they were pre-pandemic, but with hospitality and retail back up and running properly we’re confident we can get revenues back up to where they were”.