Takeaway Supplies is very proud to be a member of the Ice Cream Alliance. We thought we’d let you know a little bit about what it is and why we chose to join.
What is the Ice Cream Alliance?
The Ice Cream Alliance is a membership association that supports the ice cream industry. Their mission is to “encourage and support the production, vending and consumption of premium ice creams and other frozen treats”.
It is the only membership trade association for the ice cream industry in the United Kingdom and is the organiser of the Ice Cream Expo. This is an annual event and the only one of its kind in the UK, attracting visitors and businesses from all over the world.
What does the ICA do?
The Ice Cream Alliance works hard to represent the interests of its members as well as the general trade and to promote the industry as a whole. This can involve liaising with authorities such as EHOs, Trading Standards, planning officers and event organisers to best help members.
More particularly, they are involved in an ongoing campaign regarding ice cream in schools, including lobbying Parliament and influencing policy makers, addressing the media and giving access to practical tools to help their members.
They are also working hard to promote quality ice cream. This involves giving the public information about what real artisan ice cream is and the opportunity to enjoy local ice cream products.
Benefits of Membership
There are plenty of benefits to being a member of the Ice Cream Alliance.
Members get access to a wide range of knowledge and experience which is made available through their dedicated team. They can also get a discount on attending many training courses and seminars relating to all facets of ice cream making. This means that members are kept abreast of all the latest news and technology in the ice cream industry and can ensure that they are keeping up to date with new innovations and general goings on, providing the best possible products and services.
Even if taking advantage of cutting edge products, processes and equipment leads to problems, members can get access to the ICA’s independent technical advice to solve their particular ice cream issues. The advice is given by Booth Smith Food Technology Ltd and is via the Technical Membership upgrade.
ICA members also get a free copy of the association’s monthly publication, ‘Ice Cream’, dedicated to the industry, and can get free advertising in the classified section of the magazine.
There is the opportunity to enter ICA’s distinguished National Ice Cream Competition for free or at a discounted rate.
There are also discounts on insurance, telephone, gas and electricity rates and free HR online services open to ICA members. Free merchant account set up is also available, with reduced costs for credit card payment processing.
Takeaway Supplies is proud to be a member of the Ice Cream Alliance. It puts us at the forefront of contributing to the positive image of the ice cream industry as a whole. In addition, it ensures that we are knowledgeable about the latest news and innovations in the industry so that we can best serve our own customers.