UK ice cream awards

Ice cream maker Philip Mancini has lived up to his King Cone nickname after being crowned the UK champion for his chocolate ice cream.

The Mancini family has been making ice cream for more than a century and now Philip has won the ultimate award for the second time in six years.

The award has been made by The Ice Cream Alliance – the trade association for the £1bn ice cream industry – which organises the prestigious National Ice Cream Competition.

Philip, who runs the Royal Cafe and Filippo’s Bistro in Ayr, says: “This is the ultimate accolade from the ice cream industry. It is a huge honour.

“I have been an ice cream man all my life and I’m so passionate about ice cream that I’m sure I have raspberry ripple running through my veins!”

Philip’s ice creams have won so many awards over the years that he has become known as King Cone. This year he also won a first for his artisan vanilla dairy ice cream.

“I won the champions title in 2009 and that was one of the greatest achievements in my life,” says Philip. “There are so many fantastic ice cream makers in the UK that I never thought I could win this again. Right now I don’t think there could be a happier man in Scotland!”

Franks Ice Cream continued its winning run following last year’s success as Champion of Champions by taking the honours for the best vanilla ice cream in show.

Frank’s Ice Cream has become a Welsh success story from humble beginnings 90 years ago. Now it manufactures more than a 250,000 litres of ice cream a week from its base on Capel Hendre Industrial Estate, Ammanford and supplies major supermarkets across the UK and Ireland.

Zelica Carr, Chief Executive Officer of The Ice Cream Alliance, says: “The UK is extremely fortunate to have so many superb ice cream makers.

“These awards highlight the dedication, passion and innovation that goes into making the finest quality ice cream.

“The ICA and its members are committed to preserving these high standards. Unfortunately, changes in legislation on the composition of ice cream could mean inferior non traditional products coming onto the UK market. To help consumers identify traditionally made ice cream we have launched the ICA quality standard, which will appear on our members products and in their shops and parlours.”

Award winners: National Ice Cream Champion – Mancini’s Royal Cafe; Best of Best Flavour – Mancini’s; Best of the Best Vanilla – Franks Ice Cream; Ice Cream Open – Morelli’s Ices; Ice Cream Artisan – Smiths Creamland Ices; Dairy Ice Cream Artisan – Mancini’s; Ice Cream Continuous – Franks Ice Cream; Dairy Ice Cream Continuous -Mario’s Ice Cream; Chocolate – Mancini’s; Open Flavour – Tickety Moo Ices; Salted Caramel – Caroline’s Dairy; Bubblegum – Di-Meo’s; Banoffee – Glaslyn Ices; Open Sorbet – Forte’s Ice Cream; Champagne Sorbet – Kingstonian Ice Cream; Supply House – Antonelli Bros Ltd; Frozen Yoghurt – Di Meo’s; Soft Serve Ice Cream – Peters; Large Artistic – Charlottes Jersey Ice Cream; Mini Artistic – J R Ashmore & Son; Best Newcomer – Daresbury Dairy; Mobiler of the Year (Sponsored by Slade Edwards Insurance Brokers) – Pinks Vintage Ice Cream.