June 2019 - Machinery World

So how did the "99" get its name?

So how did the "99" get its name?

The ‘99’ Flake can trace the roots of its name all the way back to Italy

Nothing seems to anger nostalgic Brits quite like the fact that “99” Flakes don’t cost 99p. Except perhaps the extortionate price of Freddo chocolate bars.

Some people assume that the “99” Flake derives its name from its original cost. However, this isn’t the case.

While the origin of the “99” Flake name is still somewhat shrouded in mystery, there is apparently a logical reason for its title that has nothing to do with the price tag.

The name of the “99” Flake, an ice cream cone traditionally served with a Cadbury Flake perched inside, was reportedly inspired by Italian royalty.

It all stems back to Italian soft ice cream makers working in County Durham in the 1920s who decided to incorporate the Flake into their ice creams in order to increase interest and boost sales.

Their chosen combination proved very popular, so much so that they needed to devise a memorable name for their innovative creation.

In the days of the monarchy in Italy the King has a specifically chosen guard consisting of 99 men, and subsequently anything really special or first class was known as ‘99’ – and that is how ‘99’ Flake came by its name Cadbury states.

While the regal connection of the “99” Flake to the Italian monarchy may sound impressive, there are other theories circulating about how the ice cream obtained its name.

In 1922, a man called Stefano Arcari opened up an ice cream shop in Scotland at 99 Portobello High Street.

He would apparently break a Flake in half and then place it in the ice cream to serve to his customers, taking inspiration from the shop’s address for the ice cream’s name.

It has been a family legend for as long as I can remember that my grandad invented the ‘99’, but the problem is, we have no proof,” Tanya Arcari, Stephen’s granddaughter told the BBC.

My dad always said that my grandad broke a Flake in half – before the short ‘99’ Flakes were manufactured – and stuck it in an ice cream.
We’re not sure of the exact date he did that, but it was not long after he opened the shop in 1922.

Rudi Arcari, Stephen’s son, believes that a representative from Cadbury’s may have then taken the idea.

Others speculate that the “99” Flake was so-called to honour the i Ragazzi del 99, “the Boys of ‘99’.

They were a group of soldiers born in 1899 and so the last to enlist in the First World War.

Some streets in Italy have been named after them in commemoration.

Scottish ice cream brand Porrelli scoops fresh Asda listing

Scottish ice cream brand Porrelli scoops fresh Asda listing

ROKK customer Porelli is celebrating after scooping an exclusive deal with Asda to stock two new ice cream flavours.

Produced on the ROKK RFE 1200 Twin Barrel Continuous Freezer, Porrelli’s new Bubblegum Swirl and Hazelnut Chocolate flavours will be available in 51 stores in Scotland.

This new deal is the Paisley based ice-cream factory’s first supermarket listing for the flavours, following a recent investment of £35,000 in state-of-the-art technology allowing new innovative flavours to be invented.

The new flavours are available in a 500ml size, retailing at £2.50 a tub and are in addition to the Vanilla and Scottish Tablet dairy ice cream tubs which are already available in Asda stores.

The family-run company have been working with Asda for more than 20 years and previously participated in Asda’s Supplier Development Academy, helping to boost the business from direct delivery to local Asda stores in Glasgow to a national Scottish distribution through depot.

Enzo Durante, managing director at Porrelli said:

We are thrilled to secure our first national supermarket listing for the Bubblegum Swirl and Hazelnut Chocolate flavours.

Over the past few years we’ve seen real innovation of ice cream flavours mimicking confectionary, thanks to a revival of the modern-day ice cream parlour.

Thanks to this consumer demand, we are always developing new flavour combinations and sauces, so it’s good to see this popularity now finding its way into retail pots in the supermarkets.

 Regional buying manager at Asda, Heather Turnbull, said:

Porrelli Ice Cream has been available at Asda for 20 years now and has been a huge success in stores across the country, so we know our customers are going to enjoy the two new flavours that have launched.

Over the years we have stocked a number of Porrelli Ice Cream products allowing customers to enjoy luxury ice cream packed full of home-grown Scottish taste, talent upporting local Scottish suppliers is an integral part of what we strive to do at Asda and we’re delighted to continue to support Porrelli Ice Cream range across our stores.

Porrelli has been making ice cream for more than 90 years for the catering and retail industry and stocks more than 100 flavours.

The company is well-known for its unusual flavours including Tablet, Iron Brew, Turkish Delight and Italian Mascarpone & Amarena Cherry.

Story courtesy of Scottish National

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