Sweet success
Holman’s Ice Cream Parlour gears up for expansion with a mobile cart
Holman’s Ice Cream Parlour gears up for expansion with a mobile cart.
SUMMERSIDE – It’s been a bumpy ride towing an ice cream cart across the United States to Summerside.
Just short of the Confederation Bridge – 500 metres to be precise – the trailer holding the cart toppled over, thanks to high winds, snow, and ice. But despite the small hiccup in the journey to P.E.I., Jenny and Ken Meister have already overcome tremendous hurdles to get this far in their ice cream business.
“Health P.E.I. has regulations when it comes to food, and we wanted to meet them,” said Ken, who will be expanding his Holman’s Ice Cream Parlour business with a mobile cart in March.
But this is nothing like a popsicle cart towed behind a bicycle.
The cart measures eight feet in height and width, contains a handwashing station and a place to wash scoops and keep things sanitized.
“My wife Jenny and I sent the Health P.E.I. regulations to a company in Ohio, and they created this cart to those specifications. It contains a freshwater reservoir, greywater reservoir, hot water tank, dipping well for scoops, handwashing sink and soap dispenser,” he listed.
There are foldable shelves for a money tray, a drop-down screen to protect from the sun’s rays, gelato trays, as well as tubs for ice cream.
“We wanted something mobile so that we can attend indoor and outdoor events such as weddings and festivals. An outside truck wouldn’t cater to indoor events, and there’s lots regulation involved,” said Ken. “This week, we are working on the cost of catering to different events.”
The Meister family is in the process of creating a new website and Facebook page for bookings, but Sundays are for chilling out.
“For the first season, it will just be Jenny and me catering on the cart at events until we figure things out and get more of a standard procedure with staff.”
After registration with the City of Summerside to get a license, the cart can have two permanent locations, said Ken.
“We haven’t determined where these static locations will be yet. Although, we would love to be at Spinnakers’ Landing during hot, sunny days. But for events such as hockey games, downtown sidewalk sales, car shows, the Summerside Lobster Carnival, or even the Tignish Irish Moss Festival, it’s up to the organizers to invite us.”
Holman’s ice cream combines local ingredients and popular flavours that are made onsite.
“We use pure, simple ingredients in our ice cream, and people love it,” Ken said.
“My son recently got married in New Brunswick, and we served ice cream at his wedding. It’s the perfect treat for any occasion.”