Ices bring a touch of Hawaii to Hexham

Dec 2 2009 by Karen Dent, The Journal

THE weather may be cold and wet but a new concept in flavoured ices is selling like hot cakes in Northumberland.

The Hawaiian Ice treat is flavoured ‘shaved’ ice served in a cone like a traditional ice cream.

Shave Ice – the company which introduced the idea to Europe – has just picked up a top award.

Alan Phillipson, who runs Hexham-based Tyne Valley Ices, scooped the Best New Product award at an international trade exhibition in Harrogate where he was representing Shave.

Mr Phillipson, who has been in the ice cream business for 33 years, has the contract to distribute the machines across the North of England and Scotland.

He said: “The concept started in India. I have sold them to a couple of Asian gentlemen and they remember it from when they were kids. And it’s been in America for 60 to 70 years.”

He first came across the idea at a trade exhibition last year at Birmingham’s NEC and he says Hawaiian Ices have really caught on with local youngsters.

“We’re doing ones called Volcanoes and we did one for Hallowe’en called a Rotten Apple.

“We were out at a Hallowe’en party in Hexham and sold absolutely loads,” he said. “Once the kids have tried them, they come back for more.”

Mr Phillipson, whose company has a fleet of ice cream vans and manufactures ice cream for wholesale to shops and leisure businesses, says the product is different to Slush Puppie drinks.

He added: “With a Slush you’d have to load the machine up in the morning and run it all day. This machine is only working when you serve a portion.”