Anglesey based Red Boat Ice Cream Parlour is keeping the North Wales healthcare workers and patients’ spirits up during the coronavirus crisis by donating free ice cream and sorbets.
The award-winning ice cream parlour, which specialises in creating traditional handmade gelato ice cream has been delivering pots of their ice cream and sorbets to hospitals, hospices and care homes across Anglesey and North Wales since the lockdown.
“We had made plenty of our homemade gelato ice cream and sorbets in readiness for the spring and summer tourism season and we thought instead of it sitting in the freezer not being eaten, why not donate it to the hospitals, hospices and care homes across North Wales”, said Tony Green, owner of Red Boat Ice Cream Parlour.
“We started with the hospitals and care homes initially and then thought about the local hospices. My older brother spent time in a hospice and I felt I wanted to help in any way we could. I posted a message on our Facebook page about delivering free ice cream and it has just snowballed from there. It has been amazing and we are overwhelmed with the lovely comments we’ve received!”
With ice cream parlours across Anglesey and North Wales, owners Tony and Lyn Green know a thing or two about the finest gelato and sorbets. They started the business in 2009 specialising in Italian gelato ice cream after Tony received extensive training in the art of ice cream making in the world famous Carpigiani Gelato University of Italy.
All of their gelato is made fresh at their new production hub in Llangefni, which opened last year. They have plenty of flavours to choose from, all made with the best ingredients and passion. They currently employ eight members of staff who they have had to furlough during this crisis.
Tony and his wife Lyn have been delivering the ice cream in their freezer van, which normally they would be using to supply their own parlours and outlets. They have also donated ice cream to the local police control centre on Anglesey.
Commenting further Tony Green said,
“We just want to come out of this as it has made us think hard about the vulnerability of the business. This is our way of saying thank you to the NHS, and local health care services in North Wales. We want to spread some happiness throughout our community to all the hardworking individuals, making people feel better and giving them a treat in these difficult times.”
Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, added,
“The Covid-19 pandemic has brought about significant challenges to our food and drink industry. It has not only affected our daily lives but on key sectors which are vital components of our economy. It is lovely to see companies like Red Boat Ice Cream supporting our communities by offering up surplus supplies of their products to healthcare workers and patients in this challenging period.”
Red Boat Ice Cream Parlours in Anglesey and across North Wales are currently closed to the public but their production hub in Llangefni is set up and ready should they need to produce more ice cream and sorbets as demand will hopefully increase.
