Solley's Ice Cream

What Solley's Ice Cream does

Solley's Ice Cream, legally Solleys Farms Ice Cream Ltd, is a privately held, family-owned artisan ice cream producer and farm-based visitor attraction headquartered in Ripple, near Deal, Kent, United Kingdom. The business operates from a single 383-acre family farm that has been held by the family for four generations, producing hand-crafted real dairy ice cream on-site from milk and cream sourced within approximately one mile (85% of base ingredients sourced locally) at a rate of up to 4,500 litres per day, or over 650,000 litres annually. Core production capability is supplemented by solar-powered freezers (Kent's first solar-powered ice cream operation, funded by a Dover District Council grant) and a vegan ice cream range launched in May 2021.

The company monetises its output through multiple revenue streams: direct retail at the on-site Ice Cream Parlour and café, wholesale supply to farm shops, restaurants, and attractions across the South East (including Southern Co-op, Leeds Castle, and Hever Castle), year-round home delivery via its own e-commerce storefront, and a diversified on-farm leisure offering comprising The Pub at Solley's, a small campsite with upgraded facilities, tractor rides, a seasonal maize maze, walking and cycling routes, pre-bookable afternoon teas, and hosted events such as Music on the Farm and Prom on the Farm for the Martha Trust charity. The business is family-controlled (Managing Director Keith Morrison; Co-owner and Director Katie Morrison), bootstrapped with no external investors identified, and currently operates with 1–10 employees.

Name

Solley's Ice Cream

Legal name

Solleys Farms Ice Cream Ltd

Website

https://solleys.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Solley's Ice Cream is a family-owned artisan ice cream producer and farm visitor attraction in Ripple, Kent, producing over 650,000 litres of real dairy ice cream per year for on-site retail, South East wholesale stockists, home delivery, and on-farm leisure including a pub, campsite, and attractions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan Ice Cream

NAICS

Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (311520)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Ice Cream & Refrigerated Desserts (CRADACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ice Cream & Gelato Shops (THAFAGAA), Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts Wholesale (AFAIAHAC)

Keywords

• Real dairy ice cream
• Artisan ice cream production
• Farm visitor attractions
• Ice cream wholesale
• Campsite accommodation

Headquarters

HQ city

Deal, England

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ice Cream Sales (On-site): Direct retail sales of hand-scooped ice cream in cones, cups, and take-home tubs at the Ice Cream Parlour. Also includes sundaes, Super Bowls (12 scoops), and specialty items.
2. Ice Cream Sales (Wholesale): Supply to farm shops, restaurants, attractions, and retail stores including Southern Co-op throughout the South East
3. Home Delivery: Year-round local home delivery service for ice cream products
4. The Pub at Solley's: On-site pub serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, bar snacks, cheese and meat boards, and afternoon teas
5. Afternoon Tea Service: Pre-bookable afternoon teas at £19.50 per person, including sandwiches, scones, cakes, and mini ice cream cones with unlimited tea and coffee
6. Campsite: Camping pitches for tents, caravans, and motorhomes with facilities including electricity, waste disposal, and upgraded toilet/shower facilities (July 2024)
7. Attractions: Revenue from tractor rides (£2.50 per person), maize maze (£2.50 per person), and summer bundle deals combining multiple attractions
8. Event Hosting: Hosting charity events including Music on the Farm and Prom on the Farm, charging entry fees (£30 family, £12 adult, £5 child) with proceeds to Martha Trust

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Solley's produces and sells hand-crafted real dairy ice cream on-site at its family farm in Ripple, Kent, available in over 15 flavours with seasonal specials. The company also operates a destination visitor experience combining the Ice Cream Parlour & Café, The Pub at Solley's, a family campsite, tractor rides, a maize maze, farm trails, afternoon tea, group visits and event hosting. Products are sold direct at the farm, through home delivery and wholesale to retailers across the South East.

Product overview

Solley's Ice Cream is a family-run ice cream maker and visitor attraction farm in Kent, UK. The core offering is real dairy ice cream produced on-site from locally sourced ingredients (85% base ingredients sourced within 1 mile), available in over 15 flavours. The company operates multiple visitor-facing products including the Ice Cream Parlour & Café for direct sales and dining, The Pub at Solley's for beverages and food service, and a campsite with various pitch options. Additional attractions include tractor rides, a seasonal maize maze, and a marked farm trail with walking/cycling routes. Products are sold online through home delivery, at the on-site shop, and through stockists throughout the South East. The company also offers group visit packages, afternoon tea experiences, and hosts events including Music on the Farm.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 4,500 litres produced per day
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Southern Co-opminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 May 2023Solley's Kentish Ice Cream chosen to feature in local Southern Co-op retail stores in the region.
• Team HARD. RacingminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 August 2022Commercial partnership with Team HARD. Racing for the British Touring Car Championship. Solley's Ice Cream is supplied to guests in the team's VIP hospitality area at selected BTCC rounds.
• Dover District CouncilminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 July 2022Received a £10,000 Green Energy Grant from Dover District Council to install solar panels for powering ice cream production freezers.
• Produced in KentminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 November 2017Trade organisation dedicated to supporting and promoting food, drink, products and service in Kent. Keith Morrison, Solley's Managing Director, serves as chairman of Produced in Kent's Members Group and joined the board as non-executive director.
• Martha TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 October 2017Long-term charity partnership hosting annual Music on the Farm and Prom on the Farm events. Events raise funds for Martha Trust, which supports people with profound physical and multiple learning disabilities. Raised over £24,000 in 2019 and over £14,000 in 2018.
• MobiloominorGTM or Marketing PartnerAccessible toilet facility with hoist and changing bench provided at events via grant from Deal Town Council.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rookery Farm Dairy Ice Cream: Small UK farm-based ice cream producer making dairy ice cream on-site from own herd milk with parlour/café and local stockists. Closely comparable small-scale artisan farm ice cream operator.
• Granny Mouse (Granny Mouse's Farmhouse Ice Cream): UK small-batch artisan ice cream maker focused on quality dairy ingredients with stockist distribution. Comparable as a regional artisanal UK ice cream brand competing on provenance and taste.
• Marshfield Farm Ice Cream: UK family-run farm-based ice cream maker producing on-site from a working dairy farm with farm shop, café, and wholesale distribution. Directly comparable as an artisan farm-to-scoop producer with parlour and stockist model.
• Brymor Ice Cream: Yorkshire-based family-run ice cream manufacturer producing on-site from local milk with parlour and wholesale stockist network. Comparable artisanal UK farm-anchored ice cream producer.
• Bee's Ice Cream: UK independent artisan ice cream maker producing from a Sussex dairy with parlour/café and stockist distribution. Closely comparable as a regional family-run farm ice cream operator.
• Kelly's of Cornwall (R&R Ice Cream): Cornwall-based artisan ice cream maker owned by R&R, producing on-site dairy ice cream with regional stockist distribution and visitor destination. Comparable UK farm-anchored producer with parlour and wholesale model.

Broad incumbents

• Wall's (Unilever): UK mass-market ice cream brand owned by Unilever, offering impulse and tub formats across national retail. Comparable as the dominant incumbent against which Solley's competes for freezer space and consumer occasions.
• Ben & Jerry's (Unilever): Global premium ice cream brand with strong UK presence across grocery, scoop shops, and foodservice. Comparable as the leading premium-positioned competitor Solley's faces in retail and out-of-home.
• Häagen-Dazs (General Mills): Global premium ice cream brand with national UK distribution and scoop shops. Comparable as a premium-positioned broad incumbent against which Solley's competes for out-of-home dessert occasions.

Emerging players

• Northern Bloc: UK-based craft ice cream maker scaling nationally with strong wholesale presence and on-trade partnerships. Comparable as a growing artisanal brand pursuing the same premium retail and foodservice channels as Solley's.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/solleys-farms-ice-cream-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Solley's Ice Cream