Yarde Farm Ice Cream

What Yarde Farm Ice Cream does

Yarde Farm Ice Cream is a UK-based artisanal ice cream manufacturer producing over 40 flavours across traditional dairy, plant-based, sorbets and a dedicated doggy ice cream sub-brand called Barke Farm. The company handcrafts ice cream at a small factory on the outskirts of Plymouth, Devon, using South West cream, Belgian chocolate and Italian fruit purees, with a team it describes as 'Gelaticians' performing hand-filling of flavours and delivering a scoop-perfect consistency that allows operators to serve directly from the freezer. The product range also includes branded freezers, POS materials and menu boards that operators install on site, and a 'Scooped & Served Guide' co-developed with Bidfood to help customers build dessert menus.

The business operates an exclusively B2B wholesale model: Yarde Farm does not sell direct to consumers but distributes exclusively through foodservice wholesalers including Bidfood (national, Bidcorp-owned), its parent Caterfood, and eight regional wholesalers (Elite Fine Foods, Harvest Fine Foods, Nicol Hughes, Thomas Ridley, Turner Price, South Lincs Foodservice, Savona, Urban Foodservice). Its end customers are cafés, farm shops, tourist destinations and caterers across England. Beyond the core range, the company holds the exclusive UK license for Lotus Biscoff ice cream (since 2016), produces brand-collaboration products such as Jimmy's Latte, and makes Devon Ice Cream exclusively for the Caterfood Buying Group.

Yarde Farm was founded in 1988 (originally as a farmer's wife's business, later acquired by Tamar Valley Products), relocated to Plympton in 1995, was acquired by Caterfood in 2008, and joined the Bidfood/Bidcorp group in 2015. It is a privately held subsidiary within Bidcorp and has no public listing. The legal entity is Yarde Farm Limited (Company No. 02266231), registered in England and Wales. Recent operational milestones include a 2024 factory expansion next to the existing site, the 2026 launch of TÜV-certified compostable mini tubs, and repeated industry recognition including 11 wins at the 2026 Golden Scoop Awards and multiple Gold medals at the 2024-2026 Taste of the West Awards.

Name

Yarde Farm Ice Cream

Legal name

Yarde Farm Limited

Website

https://yardefarmicecream.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Yarde Farm Ice Cream is a Devon-based artisanal ice cream manufacturer producing 40+ flavours of dairy, plant-based, sorbet and doggy ice cream, distributed exclusively B2B through foodservice wholesalers to UK cafés, farm shops and caterers as a Bidcorp subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Plymouth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Ice Cream Sales: B2B wholesale distribution of ice cream, sorbets, plant-based options, and doggy ice cream to food service operators including cafés, farm shops, tourist destinations, and caterers through multiple wholesale partners
2. Private Label / Exclusive Flavours: Production of exclusive flavours for specific buying groups, such as Devon Ice Cream created exclusively for Caterfood Buying Group customers, and previously exclusive Millionaire's Shortbread
3. Barke Farm Doggy Ice Cream: Specialty dog ice cream product line sold through the same food service wholesale channels for consumption by dogs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels10 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Yarde Farm Ice Cream is a Devon-based artisanal ice cream manufacturer that handcrafts over 40 flavours of traditional dairy ice cream, plant-based options, sorbets, and a dedicated doggy ice cream sub-brand (Barke Farm). The company sells exclusively through B2B wholesale distribution partners (Bidfood, Caterfood, and other foodservice wholesalers) to cafés, farm shops, tourist destinations, and caterers across England, supplying branded freezers and POS materials alongside the product.

Product overview

Yarde Farm Ice Cream is a specialist B2B ice cream manufacturer offering a portfolio of over 40 artisanal ice cream flavours across traditional dairy, plant-based, and sorbet categories. The core product line is complemented by Barke Farm (a dedicated doggy ice cream sub-brand), Devon Ice Cream (exclusive to Caterfood Buying Group), and branded freezers and POS materials. The company operates as an artisanal producer handcrafting small batches in Devon, with distribution through wholesale partners including Bidfood, Caterfood, and other foodservice distributors. The Scooped & Served Guide provides additional value to customers by helping them build dessert menus using Yarde Farm products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Barke Farm: Doggy ice cream made with carrot, apple and banana, launched in 2022. Specially made for adult dogs, available in wider 130ml tubs to make it easier for dogs to enjoy every last lick.

Products and services

• Traditional Dairy Ice Cream Over 40 artisanal dairy ice cream flavours crafted in Devon using South West cream, Belgian chocolate, and Italian fruit purees, hand-filled by a team of Gelaticians to deliver scoop-perfect consistency for foodservice operators.
• Plant-Based Ice Cream Dairy-free ice cream options included within the over 40 flavour range, meeting food service demand for plant-based choices.
• Sorbets Frozen fruit sorbet offerings including Alphonso Mango, Cherry Cola, and Passionfruit, providing vegan-friendly dessert alternatives for food service menus.
• Barke Farm Doggy Ice Cream Specialised ice cream treat for adult dogs made with carrot, apple, and banana, available in wider 130ml tubs designed to make it easier for dogs to enjoy. Sold through the same foodservice wholesale channels as the core range.
• Jimmy's Latte Ice Cream Smooth, creamy latte-flavoured dairy ice cream created as a brand collaboration with Jimmy's Iced Coffee, available in 4.5-litre Napolis for food service operators.
• Blueberry Mascarpone Cheesecake Ice Cream Creamy mascarpone dairy ice cream swirled with blueberry ripple and finished with biscuit pieces, available in 4.5-litre Napolis for food service operators.
• Millionaire's Ice Cream Caramel dairy ice cream packed with chocolate and biscuit pieces and finished with a rich caramel ripple, available in 4.5-litre Napolis.
• Devon Ice Cream (Caterfood Exclusive) Yarde Farm ice cream line created exclusively for Caterfood Buying Group customers, featuring the same Devon-made artisanal ice cream quality under a dedicated sub-brand.
• Branded Freezers & POS Materials Branded freezers and point-of-sale materials supplied to food service operators, including feather flags, wall flags, flavour spikes, flavour roundals, menu boards, pavement signs, scooping freezers, trikes, and standing freezers with custom Yarde Farm branding.

Quantifiable outcome

• 11 wins at the 2026 Golden Scoop Awards including 5-star rating for Orange & Chocolate
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• WafflemeisterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2026Partnership for the Scooped & Served initiative providing golden, crisp waffles to be used with Yarde Farm ice cream in dessert recipes.
• Exploding BakeryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2026Partnership for the Scooped & Served initiative providing rich, indulgent brownies to pair with Yarde Farm ice cream in dessert creations.
• zilkminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2026Partnership for the Scooped & Served initiative providing smooth, plant-based shakes to complement Yarde Farm's plant-based ice cream options.
• Jimmy's Iced CoffeeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2026Brand collaboration for Jimmy's Latte Ice Cream using real Jimmy's Iced Coffee to create a smooth, creamy latte-flavoured dairy ice cream.
• Lotus BiscoffcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2016Yarde Farm produces the only officially licensed Lotus Biscoff Ice Cream in the UK. This exclusive licensing agreement has been a fan favourite since launch in 2016.
• BidfoodcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2015Yarde Farm became part of the Bidfood family in 2015, opening doors to national distribution opportunities. Bidfood serves as a primary wholesale channel for Yarde Farm products.
• CaterfoodcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2008Caterfood, a local South West wholesaler and long-time Yarde Farm customer, acquired Yarde Farm in 2008. Caterfood remains the parent company and regional distributor.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Marshfield Farm Ice Cream: UK artisanal ice cream producer based in Wiltshire supplying foodservice operators with traditional, plant-based and specialty flavours. Closest comparable in scale, channel (B2B foodservice/wholesale), and product breadth.
• Roskilly's: Cornish farmhouse ice cream maker producing artisanal dairy ice cream for wholesale and farm-shop channels. Comparable Devon/Cornwall regional provenance, small-batch production, and B2B foodservice focus.
• New Forest Ice Cream: Hampshire-based artisanal ice cream manufacturer supplying hotels, restaurants, farm shops and wholesalers across the UK. Directly comparable craft positioning and foodservice distribution model.
• Mackie's of Scotland: Scottish dairy producer of ice cream and other frozen dairy products sold through UK retail and foodservice. Comparable scale, heritage brand, and breadth of traditional dairy flavours, though stronger retail presence.
• Jude's: UK premium ice cream brand selling through major grocery and foodservice channels. Comparable premium positioning, flavour innovation cadence, and co-branded/licensed SKUs.

Emerging players

• Northern Bloc: UK-based premium ice cream maker focused on B2B foodservice with an emphasis on plant-based and innovative flavours. Comparable foodservice focus and innovation pipeline, though with stronger plant-based emphasis.

Broad incumbents

• Kelly's of Cornwall: Long-established Cornish ice cream brand now part of Froneri (Nestlé/R&R joint venture), supplying UK grocery and foodservice. Comparable heritage and provenance cues but operates at much larger scale under a multinational.
• Ben & Jerry's: Global super-premium ice cream brand (Unilever) with UK foodservice and retail presence. Competes for the same operator shelf space in cafes and tourist destinations but at vastly different scale and brand recognition.
• Häagen-Dazs: Global premium ice cream brand (General Mills) widely stocked in UK foodservice and hospitality. Comparable premium positioning and scoop-perfection cues but operates as a global brand rather than an artisanal producer.
• Wall's Ice Cream: Unilever's mass-market UK ice cream brand sold through grocery, impulse, and foodservice channels. Sets the baseline for operator expectations on price and availability that Yarde Farm's premium positioning must justify.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/YardeFarmLtd
• Facebookfacebook.com/YardeFarmIceCream
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yarde-farm-ice-cream-ltd

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Yarde Farm Ice Cream