Cinnamon is simply the ice cream of choice for judges

Ashford’s Simply Ice Cream has received nationwide recognition for its handmade ice cream at the 2015 Great Taste Awards.

The Bonnington firm’s cinnamon flavour ice cream was awarded a Great Taste Award 2 star and the company’s exotic coconut flavour a 1 star award in the annual tasting, organised by the Guild of Fine Food.

These two latest awards are in addition to 14 of Simply Ice Cream’s other flavours that have previously secured the Great Taste accolade.

The company says the latest awards reinforce the superior quality and flavour of the range.

In addition to the Great Taste Awards, Simply Ice Cream is also a finalist in the 2015 Café Quality Awards, which reward excellence in food and drink product development.

Sally Newall, Simply Ice Cream’s founder and owner, said: “We’re delighted to have been given the Great Taste Award on two more of our ice cream flavours.

“We are always trying to be innovative with our flavours and these two were no exception.

“The cinnamon came to life after I was approached at a trade fair by a small producer who uses only the core of the cinnamon stick. This produces a really intense cinnamon flavour throughout the ice cream.

“And one of our regular customers suggested a coconut variety and we were delighted with the end result.

“It’s really rewarding when experts select our products as being great-tasting as it’s rewarding for the whole team who are involved in the product development.”

Simply Ice Cream has gone from strength to strength since its launch in 2008 by Sally Newall.

From humble beginnings when Simply Ice Cream was available from one local farm shop, the range is now available nationwide in more than 500 outlets, including Waitrose stores around the country.

The range is produced using locally-sourced ingredients in the old-fashioned way – by hand in small batches.

‘It’s really rewarding when experts select our products as being great-tasting as it’s rewarding for the whole team involved in the development’

FM4027766 Sally Newall, the founder and owner of Simply Ice Cream