Red Boat Ice-cream unveils ambitious expansion plans
North Wales’ award-winning Italian gelato producer has unveiled ambitious expansion plans.
Red Boat Ice-cream, which has four ice-cream parlours across Anglesey and North Wales, has invested £400,000 in a new ice-cream production lab at their Llangefni hub on Anglesey.
Here they plan to create a visitor attraction for people to come along to watch ice-cream chefs making the gelato while also enjoying the on-site mini-parlour.
The investment has helped to fund product development which includes a new range of 120ml mini pots of ice-cream and a number of innovative gelato products such as cakes, gelato sticks and filled chocolates to allow them to target and grow their B2B and retail listings across Wales, Cheshire and Merseyside as well as nationally.
Red Boat Ice-cream founder Tony Green received extensive training in the art of ice-cream making from the world famous Carpigiani University of Italy, before setting up his brand with his wife Lyn.
He said: “We have lots of exciting plans for the business in 2021 including growing our number of stockists not just in Wales and across the region but throughout the UK, launching some fantastic new gelato products and collaborating with a number of other well-known Welsh brands.
“We have a new range of 120ml mini pots of ice-cream which are perfect for restaurants, coffee shops and tourist attractions as well as food wholesalers and supermarket chains.
“Our team of gelato chefs can even bespoke products for customers to suit their requirements.”
Red Boat Ice Cream parlours can be found in Beaumaris, Menai Bridge, Prestatyn and Llangefni with a new parlour due to open in Spring 2021. They also supply The National Trust with ice-cream at Plas Newydd and Penrhyn Castle.
During the pandemic, Red Boat Ice-cream innovated and launched their first direct to customer service with people able to place their orders online.
They trialled a local delivery service along the A55 corridor to enable customers to get their supply of ice-cream and gelato cakes. It has proved such a success that they plan to roll out online sales every Autumn and Winter.
They recently won a prestigious Great Taste Award for their indulgent tiramisu ice-cream which was praised by the judges for its smooth and creamy taste.
During the first few weeks of the initial lockdown, they delivered free ice-cream to hospitals, care homes and hospices in North Wales to help raise morale.
To learn more about their takeout service, visit https://redboat.touchtakeaway.net/menu
Image by Ian Cooper