26 Year old from bognor regis crowned rising star in ice cream industry as she prepares to open her first ice cream parlour
26 YEAR OLD FROM BOGNOR REGIS CROWNED RISING STAR IN ICE CREAM INDUSTRY AS SHE PREPARES TO OPEN HER FIRST ICE CREAM PARLOUR
A young business woman who runs and ice cream events company with her mother in Bognor Regis has been hailed as a ‘rising star’ of the industry as the pair prepare to open their first parlour in the town.
Georgia Alston, 26, scooped the national ‘Guido Morelli Rising Star’ award from the Ice Cream Alliance, the trade body for the UK's £1bn ice cream industry at their President’s Ball on Wednesday 13th February.
The award, which was created in memory of Guido Morelli who passed away in June 2016, honours a young member of the ice cream community who has made an impact within the industry in a short period and shines a light on their achievements.
On winning the award, Georgia said, “I am delighted to be awarded such a prestigious award, especially from such a successful and inspiring family like the Morelli’s. To be recognised as a rising star in the ice cream industry is such an honour, inspiring me to continue my hard work to bridge the gap between the wider business community and the ice cream industry.”
Georgia joined her mother Katy’s business, Pinks Vintage Ice Cream Vans and Tricycles, initially helping out in the summer holidays at the end of her first year at university, after her mum had broken her leg.
“I fell in love with it,” she said, and so, after writing a 24-page business plan explaining how she felt the firm could be grown, Georgia decided to leave university to join her mother in running the firm.
She said the business had since grown from one ice cream van to two vans and a retro tricycle, which they now take to 250 weddings each year across the South Coast, along with parties and corporate events - they’ve even served their scoops for celebrities such as Kate Winslet and Keith Richards.
Now, after years of preparation and research, Georgia and her mother, Katy, are planning to open their first ice cream parlour in Waterloo Square in Bognor Regis, just off the seafront, where they would also make their own ice cream for the first time.
“We are hoping to open by April,” she said. “The parlour will probably employ another six or seven people.
“It will be very transparent. You will be able to see the amazing product being made. We want to deliver the same high-end product and level of service as we do with the vans and the tricycle.
“We have been researching it for a number of years and are actually off to Italy next week to start really getting into it.”
Georgia revealed that she had also gone back to university, this time to study for a degree in business management at the University of Chichester.
Zelica Carr, Chief Executive Officer of The Ice Cream Alliance, said the Rising Star award had been created in memory of a past president of the ICA, Guido Morelli, of the Alliance’s Northern Ireland division.
She said the award was now in its third year and Georgia was the first woman to win it. "It’s a great achievement for her to win this honour and it’s quite clear that she is, indeed, a rising star of the industry who is set to go far."
Announcing Georgia’s win on Twitter, the ICA said Georgia had won “for her enthusiasm, customer care, charity and community work.”
For more information, please contact Georgia at info@pinks-vintage-icecream.co.uk
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Contact
Georgia Alston - Pinks Vintage Ice Cream
info@pinks-vintage-icecream.co.uk
01243 867422
About Pinks Vintage Ice Cream
Pinks Vintage Ice Cream is an award-winning Ice Cream Van and Tricycle hire company adding unique and delicious catering to a range of events - from weddings, parties and special occasions to corporate events, family days and staff rewards.
Run by mother and daughter duo, Katy and Georgia Alston, the pair are heavily involved in projects to support their local community in and around Bognor Regis as well as representing women within the ice cream and mobiler industry.
https://www.pinks-vintage-icecream.co.uk
About the ICA
The Ice Cream Alliance represents 530 businesses in Great Britain and Ireland involved in the manufacturing, retail and catering of ice cream and related products. More information on The Ice Cream Alliance can be found at www.ice-cream.org
Photos by Goble Photography https://www.goblephotography.co.uk/
Katy and Georgia Alston judging the National Ice Cream Competition 2019.