Simply Ice Cream

What Simply Ice Cream does

Simply Ice Cream is a privately held UK artisan ice cream manufacturer founded around 2005 by Sally Newall and headquartered in Ashford, Kent. The company produces handmade, small-batch ice cream using a traditional hand-whisked method with a base mix of approximately 50% double cream, milk, and sugar, and contains no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives. Its catalogue comprises more than 30 flavours organised into core, special, nutty, and vegan (coconut-milk and sorbet) ranges, plus halal-certified options; formats span 120ml single-serve pots, 500ml sharing tubs, 2L and 4.75L scooping tubs, and curated multi-flavour collections.

The company monetises through a hybrid model: direct-to-consumer e-commerce (frozen delivery across UK mainland with a minimum 6-tub order and a £39 Seasonal Ice Cream Club subscription at monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly cadence), wholesale supply to over 450 UK stockists including Waitrose, Morrisons, Co-op, farm shops, delis, cafes, pubs, cinemas, and theatres, events and catering services with freezer and van hire, contract manufacturing (My Doctor's Recipe fortified nutritional ice cream), a county-by-county franchise programme, a Middle East export range, and a dog-treats sub-brand (Simply Pawfection). It operates an 11–50 person team from a single production facility in Hinxhill, Ashford, and has won 34 Great Taste Awards including a top-tier Three Star Gold for Heavenly Honeycomb Crunch.

Customer segments are split between individual consumers (DTC and subscription), retail stockists (groceries and independents), hospitality/foodservice venues, and event organisers. Pricing is positioned at the premium end of the UK artisanal ice cream segment, with a 500ml tub priced at £6.50. The brand is its primary commercial asset and is leveraged across digital, retail, and experiential channels without external institutional capital or public listing.

Name

Simply Ice Cream

Legal name

Simply Ice Cream Limited

Website

https://simplyicecream.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Simply Ice Cream is a Kent-based artisan ice cream manufacturer producing handmade, small-batch, additive-free ice cream in 30+ flavours, selling direct-to-consumer online, via a subscription box, through 450+ UK retail stockists, and through wholesale, franchise, contract manufacturing, and Middle East export channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan Ice Cream Manufacturing

NAICS

Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (31152), Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (311520)

SIC

Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024), Dairy Products (2020)

akta.pro primary industry

Ice Cream, Frozen Desserts & Novelties Manufacturing (AFAKAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ice Cream (Hard Pack) Manufacturing (AFAHAEAA), Plant-Based Frozen Desserts Processing (Non-Dairy Ice Cream, Gelato, Novelties) (AFAHAJAE)

Keywords

• Artisan ice cream
• Handmade ice cream
• Ice cream manufacturing
• Frozen desserts wholesale
• Ice cream subscription

Headquarters

HQ city

Ashford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: Online sales of ice cream directly to consumers via own e-commerce storefront with frozen delivery across UK mainland. Minimum 6-tub orders. One-time purchases and subscription options available.
2. Subscription Box (Seasonal Ice Cream Club): Monthly subscription delivering curated 6-tub seasonal selection. Offers discount tiers: 10% off monthly, 7.5% off bi-monthly, 5% off quarterly. Auto-renews with ability to pause/skip/cancel.
3. Wholesale/Retail Distribution: Supply to supermarket chains (Waitrose, Morrisons, Co-op), independent retailers (farm shops, delis), and hospitality venues. Over 450 stockists across London and Southeast.
4. Wholesale to Trade/Venues: Bulk supply to restaurants, cafes, hotels, and events caterers. Available in multiple formats: 120ml single serve, 500ml sharing tubs, 2L and 4.75L scooping tubs, and pre-scooped balls.
5. Franchise Revenue: Franchise fee revenue from county-based franchise partners who replicate Simply Ice Cream business model in new territories.
6. Events and Catering Services: Hire of branded freezers and van plus staff for event service. Bespoke flavour orders for special events.
7. Manufacturing Partnership (My Doctor's Recipe): Sally Newall serves as manufacturing partner for My Doctor's Recipe fortified ice cream range (Nutri-Ice, Nutri-Scoop, Smile Heroes).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels10 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Simply Ice Cream is a Kent-based artisan ice cream manufacturer that produces handmade, small-batch luxury ice cream free from artificial colours, flavours, and preservatives. The company sells over 30 flavours (including core, special, nutty, vegan, and sorbet options) across multiple formats — 500ml tubs, 120ml mini pots, 2L scooping tubs, and curated collections — via direct e-commerce, retail stockists, wholesale, and a Seasonal Ice Cream Club subscription. It also operates the Simply Pawfection dog treat sub-brand and manufactures the My Doctor's Recipe fortified nutritional range.

Product overview

Simply Ice Cream is a premium artisan ice cream company producing handmade ice cream in small batches in Kent, England. Their product portfolio includes core flavours (Divine Chocolate, Heavenly Honeycomb, Dreamy Vanilla, Sublime Strawberry, Mint Choc Chip), special flavours (Apple Crumble, Coconut, Coffee, Stem Ginger & Marmalade), nutty flavours (Pistachio, Peanut Brittle, Coffee & Cobnut Fudge), and vegan options (coconut milk-based ice creams and sorbets). Products are available in multiple formats: 500ml sharing tubs, 120ml small pots, 2-litre scooping tubs, and curated collections (Classic, Seasonal, Nutty, Vegan, Fruity, Chocolate & Coffee). The company also offers a Seasonal Ice Cream Club subscription service, wholesale B2B supply, the Simply Pawfection dog ice cream sub-brand, My Doctor's Recipe fortified ice cream line, handcrafted stoneware crockery, and gift cards. Distribution includes direct-to-consumer online delivery, major retailers (Waitrose, Morrisons, Co-op), and hospitality/foodservice outlets across London and the Southeast.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Simply Pawfection: A sub-brand focused on frozen dog treats made with natural ingredients. Products include Blueberry, Natural, and Mixed flavour frozen dog treats.

Products and services

• Core Flavours Ice Cream Signature 500ml ice cream tubs made with a double cream base, including Divine Chocolate (70% cocoa), Heavenly Honeycomb, Dreamy Vanilla, Sublime Strawberry, and Mint Choc Chip. Available direct-to-consumer and through retail stockists.
• Special Flavours Ice Cream Seasonal and innovative 500ml ice cream flavours including Apple Crumble, Coconut, Coffee, Stem Ginger & Marmalade, Mango Lime & Passionfruit, Cinnamon, and limited editions like Mini Egg and Gingerbread.
• Nutty Flavours Ice Cream Nut-based 500ml ice cream flavours featuring Pistachio, Peanut Brittle, Coffee & Kentish Cobnut Fudge, Maple & Walnut, and Toffee Waffle Hazelnut, with inclusions from local Kent artisan producers.
• Vegan Flavours & Sorbets Dairy-free ice creams made with coconut milk base plus fruit-based sorbets, including Vegan Vanilla, Vegan Strawberry, Vegan Mango, Raspberry Sorbet, Blackcurrant Sorbet, Lemon Sorbet, and Mango Sorbet. Vegan Society approved.
• Seasonal Ice Cream Club Subscription Subscription box delivering a curated 6-tub seasonal selection of artisan ice cream, available monthly (£35.10, 10% off), bi-monthly (£36.08, 7.5% off), or quarterly (£37.05, 5% off). Auto-renews with pause/skip/cancel.
• Ice Cream Collections Curated multi-flavour bundles of 6 tubs, including Classic Collection, Seasonal Collection, Speciality Collection, Nutty Collection, Chocolate & Coffee Collection, Vegan Collection, and Fruity Collection.
• Small Pots (120ml) Single-serve 120ml ice cream pots available individually or in collections of 12 (e.g. The Little Scoop Collection, Mini Classics, Mini Seasonal, Mini Fruity) priced at £36 per collection.
• 2 Litre Scooping Tubs Large format 2-litre ice cream tubs containing approximately 20 scoops each, initially launched in Dreamy Vanilla and Heavenly Honeycomb flavours. Priced at £24 per tub, targeted at families, dinner parties, and festive celebrations.
• Simply Ice Cream Gift Card Digital eGift card worth £48.95, redeemable for 6 x 500ml tubs of luxury artisan ice cream with delivery included. Minimum spend of £33 required before checkout.
• My Doctor's Recipe Fortified Ice Cream (Nutri-Ice, Nutri-Scoop, Smile Heroes) Fortified ice cream range manufactured by Simply Ice Cream for My Doctor's Recipe. Includes Nutri-Ice, Nutri-Scoop, and Smile Heroes, enriched with encapsulated vitamins and minerals (DJK+ blend) for patients requiring nutritional support.
• Simply Pawfection Dog Ice Cream Frozen dog treats made with 4 natural ingredients, 100% natural, gluten-free, no added sugar. Available in Natural and Blueberry flavours in boxes of 24 frozen treats. Suitable for human consumption.
• Handcrafted Stoneware Crockery Handcrafted stoneware bowls and mugs in Simply Blue colour, embossed with signature angel wings. Made in Sri Lanka. Available as individual items or gift sets.
• Wholesale Ice Cream Supply B2B ice cream supply in multiple formats (120ml single serve, 500ml sharing tubs, 2L and 4.75L scooping tubs, pre-scooped balls) for restaurants, cafes, hotels, retail stores, farm shops, events, caterers, and wholesalers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 34 Great Taste Awards, 3 Great British Food Awards, and Veggie Awards demonstrate product quality recognition
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fudge KitchencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFudge Kitchen provides cobnut flavoured fudge for Simply Ice Cream's Coffee & Kentish Cobnut Fudge flavour and Peanut Brittle flavour. Partnership with artisan confectioner creating unique flavour combinations.
• The Wooden Spoon CocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Wooden Spoon Co provides Lemon Curd used in Simply Ice Cream's Lemon Curd flavour. Fellow local producer creating sweet and tangy preserve.
• Simply Divine CookiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBased in Folkestone, Simply Divine Cookies provides gluten-free cookie dough for the Cookie Dough ice cream flavour. Uses traditional Oregon, USA originated recipe.
• My Doctor's RecipecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder Sally Newall serves as manufacturing partner for My Doctor's Recipe nutritional healthcare range. Produces Nutri-Ice, Nutri-Scoop, and Smile Heroes - fortified ice creams with encapsulated vitamins and minerals (DJK+) for patients requiring nutritional support.
• Le Creuset UKminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLe Creuset UK partnership through recipe content. Blog post featuring Le Creuset's Chocolate and Cherry Pudding recipe paired with Cherry with Cherry Brandy ice cream.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Carte d'Or: Unilever-owned mainstream UK ice cream brand sold in retail and foodservice formats. Overlaps with Simply Ice Cream's scoop and tub formats; broader mass-market positioning.
• Ben & Jerry's: Global premium ice cream brand owned by Unilever, distributed in UK grocery, scoop shops, and foodservice. Comparable product category and flavour-led positioning; vastly larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Häagen-Dazs: Established global super-premium ice cream brand (Nestlé/General Mills) sold in UK retail and through dedicated scoop shops. Comparable super-premium positioning; significantly larger portfolio and brand recognition.

Direct peers

• Jude's Ice Cream: UK-based premium artisan ice cream manufacturer based in Hampshire, producing small-batch ice cream with natural ingredients, sold via supermarkets (Sainsbury's, Waitrose), DTC, and foodservice. Directly comparable in positioning, ingredient philosophy, and channel mix.
• Northern Bloc Ice Cream: UK premium ice cream producer in Yorkshire offering craft scooping tubs, sticks, and novelties to foodservice and retail. Comparable premium positioning, B2B format stack, and wholesale depth.
• Mackie's of Scotland: Family-owned Scottish ice cream producer using its own dairy, supplying major UK retailers (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda) and DTC. Closely comparable as a UK family-run premium ice cream manufacturer with national grocery distribution.
• Oppo Brothers: UK premium 'better-for-you' ice cream brand sold through Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose with DTC subscription. Comparable as a UK challenger ice cream brand in the premium tier with national grocery listings.
• Kelly's of Cornwall: Cornwall-based artisan ice cream producer with UK grocery listings (Sainsbury's) and DTC. Comparable as a regional UK craft ice cream manufacturer pursuing national distribution.

Regional players

• Creams (Gelato Italia): UK café chain serving gelato and ice cream desserts across multiple locations. Comparable on product and UK presence; competes for the same foodservice customer base though via owned retail rather than wholesale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SimplyIceCream
• Instagraminstagram.com/simplyicecreamkent
• TikToktiktok.com/@simplyicecreamkent
• Xx.com/simplyicecream

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

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 Simply Ice Cream