When you mix 110 years of ice cream expertise together with responsive technology and the finest ingredients from around the world, it’s a recipe for success – and the highly acclaimed Best Vanilla in the UK National Ice Cream Alliance Awards.

Beating off stiff competition from companies large and small, artisan sole trader Enrico Mastrocola of Kingstonian Ice Cream raised the trophy high – and let us into a few secrets of his success.

“Kingstonian is a family business, started by my great granddad back in 1913, then passed down through my granddad, his brothers, my dad, and now me,” says Enrico, who took over full responsibility for the business last year, but has been making the ice cream since the 1980’s. “I think our award-winning recipes are due to a combination of the wealth of knowledge and expertise accrued through the generations, coupled with my love of learning and experimenting with new ingredients.”

With Enrico at the helm, his first key business decision was to invest in a brand new ROKK RFE400 Continuous Freezer and Cattabriga PSK 185 Pro Batch Pasteuriser – an award-winning production plant combination.

“I did a lot of research into the different options available, and was initially considering a computerised freezer,” explains Enrico. “However, when I saw the ROKK RFE400 on the Machinery World stand at the Ice Cream Alliance Exhibition in 2016 and spoke with the team, they convinced me a manual machine would suit me better – and how right they were!”

“At Machinery World, we passionately believe in matching the machine to the customer,” explains Phil Darvell, Managing Director at ROKK Processing, part of the Machinery World Group. “We always get to know their business inside out to ensure the advice we give them is tailored to their bespoke needs and methods of working.
“Enrico is a consummate professional and knows exactly how his ice cream and gelato should come out in terms of consistency and texture – so having a manual machine like the ROKK RFE400 is the perfect fit for him, as he can adjust the settings exactly how he wants them.”

It’s not just the ability to control and perfect the production process that won Enrico over – there’s a whole host of other reasons he is delighted with his decision:

“The ROKK is so easy to use, really robust – and competitively priced, which, for a small business, is a key consideration,” continues Enrico. “When you combine this with the fact that the consistency throughout the cycle is excellent, that it freezes more quickly and will last for decades, I am totally satisfied – and so glad I took Phil’s advice.”

So, with the Best Vanilla in the UK trophy proudly on display, will Enrico take a well-deserved rest?
“Not at all!” laughs Enrico. “I never rest on my laurels, and love trying out different ingredients and recipe tweaks. My new equipment enables me to manufacture more ice cream faster – the ROKK can freeze 400 litres per hour – and the Cattabriga is really flexible, pasteurising up to 180 litres per batch, or smaller batches of just 50 litres, so I can easily put new flavours to the test with my regular customers and receive immediate feedback.”

ROKK Processing has launched a brand new butter reworking/homogeniser this week.

Based on the design of the Benhil Microfix, the ROKK RBR1400 Butter Reworker Homogeniser rationalises the processing and packaging of cold-store butter. With a capacity up to 1400 kg/hr, the machine reduces the time it takes to defrost butter and improves the quality of the butter by creating the finest water dispersion also improving the spreadability of the butter.

See full details here

Artist Annie Nicholson believes a good place to start a conversation about loss is over a scoop of ice cream. Her work has centred around grief since losing members of her family in a tragic accident 11 years ago.

Mini milks, choc ices, a 99 with a flake – and a chat about loss.

The sweet, soft, sugary taste of ice cream does not usually sit alongside the pain and devastation of grief. Yet Annie Nicholson’s ice cream van was designed to break a taboo.

Annie, 38, from London, had the idea for the van when the Covid pandemic struck. She wanted to encourage conversations about grief – something she already had experience of.

On 4 October 2011, Annie woke up in the night. She’d had a bad dream and turned on her phone.

“I had so many missed calls,” she says. “This had already been on the news. All these people telling me that they were sorry. I didn’t know what they were sorry for.

“It was just unreal. Someone tells you your whole life as you know it is over and you can’t compute that.”

Four members of Annie’s immediate family had been involved in a tragic accident in New York.

Her parents, Harriet and Paul, had travelled there to celebrate her sister Sonia’s 40th birthday. Sonia was in the city with her partner, Helen.

“It was a surprise for Sonia that my parents were going,” says Annie – who had also been due to fly out, along with her sister Amanda. But, because of work commitments, both had to cancel at the last minute.

Harriet, Paul, Sonia and Helen had boarded a helicopter to take a sightseeing trip around the city – but just after take off, the aircraft crashed into the East River.

Paul had been sitting in the front. After freeing himself from the wreckage, he tried to search for his family in the blackness of the river.

“They had to pull him out of the water in the end because he just wouldn’t leave them,” says Annie.

Sonia had died instantly, while Helen and Harriet were taken to hospital. A week later, Helen died. Harriet died four weeks after that.

Paul had been diagnosed with terminal cancer several years before the New York trip. He survived the accident, but died in 2016.

Read the full story here

The leading UK event for process and packaging machinery, robots, and industrial vision.

See the efficiency and competitive advantage you can achieve with the biggest and most comprehensive line-up of processing and packaging solutions. Sectors covered include food, beverages, baking, pharmaceuticals, building supplies, pet care, and FMCG.

PPMA Show exhibitors showcase the latest in machinery and ancillary products. Browse products supplied by our exhibitors on our dedicated page to identify solutions to drive efficiency within your workplace.

We look forward to welcoming you to our stand at PPMA to see the latest machinery we have available and to discuss any new machinery requirements you may have.

A Welsh ice cream company has once again been voted the UK’s best ice cream.

Minoli’s of Machen, near Caerphilly, has taken the coveted ‘Champion of Champions’ at the National Ice Cream Awards four times.

Minoli’s has had a parlour under the grandstand at the Royal Welsh Show since the 1990s, and the company has become famous for its cornet and tub sundaes with a Welsh flag.

Read the full story here on the ITV website

Highlights

• High flexibility
• Floating sensor and precision-cast pro spinner
• Pro tap: removable and easy to clean even with a full hopper
• Pro grid, to add powders during the heating phase
• New lid
• New emulsifier, easy to disassemble and clean
• Dialog: remote assistance and monitoring system
• App M2M Dialog

Ideal for

The dessert of love we all love

Saying that the USA is besotted with ice cream is an understatement considering that the average person consumes in the region of 44 pints of ice cream in a single year. While it’s common knowledge that ice cream makes you feel better, not everyone knows that it is also a rather potent aphrodisiac.

While eating a regular bowl of ice cream is undoubtedly a sensual experience that will put you in a good mood, nothing can compare indulging in a scoop or two of delectable gelato ice cream made with only the best ingredients you can find. If you want to turn ice cream into the most romantic dessert, you can even add a number of other in-the-mood-foods to your ice cream to boost its aphrodisiacal properties even more.

Carnal Chocolate

Chocolate is an aphrodisiac of ancient repute. Which is precisely why it is so popular on Valentine’s Day. Chocolate contains phenylethylamine. This stimulates dopamine production in the pleasure centers of the brain. It also contains a nice amount of anandamide which triggers a sense of well-being and exhilaration.

Chocolate inspiration for your next date night dessert

There are countless ways in which you can turn a serving of rich, dark, chocolate ice cream into a desirable summer dessert. A scoop of ice cream on a decadent chocolate brownie can become a romantic dessert, especially if you and your partner take turns feeding it to each other!
You can even just have your ice cream on its own. Especially if you experiment with mouth-watering flavor combinations such as orange and dark chocolate, double choc chip, chocolate and walnut, and chocolate caramel.

Gelato ice cream with the season’s sexiest fruit

Apart from looking downright luscious when eaten, figs are also known to contain strong libido-boosting properties. Want to end your evening on a high-note? Why not serve up a bowl or two of fabulous fig ice cream to get you and your partner in the mood. Serve your sultry ice cream in a sleek bowl, drizzle with honey. Then decorate the bowls with fresh fig slices for an unapologetic, erotic touch.

Why bananas are for lovers

Some people have the ability to eat a banana in such a way that you end up feeling dirty just watching them do it. Bananas contain a lesser-known group of enzymes called bromelain. And Bromelain is believed to increase a man’s sex drive. Women can benefit from eating bananas too since these super fruits are rich in potassium and Vitamin B2. And don’t forget the riboflavin that can give you a nifty energy boost between the sheets.

A sundae for your sweetie

A simple banana ice cream is sure to get the blood flowing to all the right places. Although you can step up your game a notch and put a modern, sexy spin on a traditional split by using banana ice cream, grilled banana halves and a generous drizzle of banana-rum sauce. Top it off with a few chunks of caramel fudge and a few red cherries and you have a summer dessert fit for a king.

Ice cream flavours you could be serving this Valentine’s Day

Ice cream is a classic treat year-round. Every season brings new ways to enjoy it. Whether it’s Christmas or Mother’s Day, it’s always a good way to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Ice Cream is Perfect for Valentine’s Day Because it’s a dessert-fueled holiday, ice cream is the perfect treat to gear towards customers in the Valentine’s Day Spirit. You can dress it up in a fancy sundae or shake, or let the flavours speak for themselves. Here’s a list of a few more flavours that are a must-serve this year:

Rose Petal

Nothing beats a dozen roses on Valentine’s Day – except maybe rose petal ice cream. This less-common flavour is perfect for you and your sweetheart. It’s sophisticated, light, and unexpected. A good way to make this is to blend together sugar and rose petals, simmer this with heavy cream, until the sugar is dissolved, and mix it into vanilla or sweet cream ice cream.

Salted Caramel

Salted caramel ice cream is popular for a reason: it’s perfect for anyone who wants something sweet, but not too sweet. The saltiness cuts through the flavour of the caramel. This makes it a unique option for anyone without a huge sweet-tooth.

Raspberry Sorbet

This is a different take on regular ice cream and it’s safe for vegans! Because raspberries have a tart taste, they’re perfect for sorbet. They don’t weigh down the flavour, making this a great option for people who don’t love traditionally sweet things.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

This classic ice cream flavour is a good choice for Valentine’s Day. It’s not too decadent or rich, while still being sweet and chocolatey. This option also works well for sundae bars because it’s simple enough to complement other toppings but it isn’t boring on its own.

9. Cherry Vanilla

This pretty pink ice cream will add some fun to your holiday. The cherries add a wash of colour to an otherwise plain treat. It’s sweet and light, perfect for a Valentine’s party or a night in with your significant other.

Classic Chocolate

There’s nothing more romantic than classic chocolate ice cream. It’s a major crowd-pleaser that’s simple enough to work well with other toppings or even a cone.
Whether they’re eating it at a party or on a date, in a cup or a cone, ice cream is always a good choice. Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to enjoy it. These flavours will be a fun addition to your Valentine’s Day menu.

Listen to Greg Jenner and his guests Dr Annie Gray and Richard Osman on BBC Radio 4 to get the inside scoop on the history of ice cream.

Listen to the discussion on BBC Radio 4 here

On 15 September Channel 5 broadcast Michael Portillo’s south west coast path adventure – his final stretch in Cornwall, and takes in a coastline of coves, sub-tropical garden and smugglers’ creeks.

He also visited Roskilly’s Ice Cream a Machinery World customer who has a ROKK RFE 1200/2 twin barrel continuous freezer and ROKK RIF 1500 ingredient feeder which Michael is filmed using to fill some ice cream tubs.

Michael Portillo is a British journalist, broadcaster and former politician. His broadcast series include railway documentaries such as Great British Railway Journeys and Great Continental Railway Journeys. A former member of the Conservative Party, he was Member of Parliament (MP) for Enfield Southgate from 1984 to 1997 and Kensington and Chelsea from 1999 to 2005.

ROKK’s RFE continuous freezer range comprises of 13 machines, each varying in size and power, but all being ideal for use in small laboratories all the way up to large factories. Equipped with self-contained Bitzer freon ‘refrigeration’ compressors, each machine in the RFE continuous freezer series has been designed for easy installation and increased mobility in the factory.

The ROKK RIF 1500 ice cream fruit feeder is a durable and highly flexible machine which allows for flavour enhancing clusters to be uniformly and consistently added to a continual flow of ice cream without risk of causing time consuming blockages.

“Well over a third of consumers are treating themselves now more than ever”

While scores of Brits embraced healthier lifestyles during lockdowns, others boosted their morale by tucking into treats.

That’s shown by the extra 54 million litres of ice cream that went through the tills last year, adding £226.1m to the take-home market [Kantar 52 w/e 27 December 2020]. And, as consumers sought out comfort in calories, indulgent lines were the biggest winners. To sum up the nation’s mood: Magnum was the fastest-growing brand and better-for-you sensation Halo Top was the fastest-falling [Nielsen].

“Well over a third of consumers are treating themselves now more than ever, and are looking for comfort and indulgence,” says Kat Jones, marketing manager at Häagen-Dazs.

So where does all this indulgence leave low-calorie lines? Was ‘healthy’ ice cream just a flash in the tub? And with lockdown restrictions easing and people venturing out, what’s the forecast for ice cream this year?

“As the pandemic took hold there was a really big resurgence of growth in indulgence”

Read the full article here