A York ice cream manufacturer is celebrating after gaining new business with a leading Garden Centre.

Yorvale, York’s only dairy ice cream maker, has secured a listing for nine of its best selling dairy ice cream flavours in a selection of 120ml impulse, 500ml take home and 5l scooping tubs at Langlands Garden Centre’s newly opened farm shop in Leeds.

The contract sees the Acaster Malbis producer supplying its rich and creamy ice cream in good time for the busy summer season.  Flavours include the best selling caramel honeycomb, Yorkshire lemon curd, vanilla, blueberry and raspberry cheesecake.

Yorvale’s Lesley Buxton is delighted with the listing “It’s great to be involved with Langlands Leeds farm shop right from the outset and to be able to satisfy Yorvale fans in West Yorkshire too.  We’re looking forward to a bumper summer and are hoping that the weather is kind.”

Langlands Director James Ducker said; “We’re hoping that we can make the Leeds farm shop as successful as Shiptonthorpe and having quality local brands like Yorvale, Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil and Pipers Crisps alongside our popular ‘Langlands Made’ lines will help us to achieve our objective.”

Yorvale uses traditional methods and the finest local ingredients to produce rich and creamy dairy ice cream. Its superior tasting ice cream is attributed to the fact that their herd of dairy cows graze on lush Yorkshire grass and because they only ever produce milk for ice cream, they only need to be milked once a day.  The result is stress free cows that produce really creamy milk for superior tasting ice cream.

Langlands is one of the North’s leading garden centres and has branches in Shiptonthorpe and Leeds.

Yorvale Real Dairy Ice Cream is also available from independent and multiple retailers throughout Yorkshire.

Premium Yorkshire ice cream producer and 2009 Made in Britain Best Farm Entrepreneur Yorvale has launched three new flavours in anticipation of a sizzling summer.

Yorvale, celebrating its 21st birthday this year, has created new recipes including Fruitful Blueberry, Creamy Rhubarb and Ruby Red Cherry and is planning an ice cream party at its Vale of York farm-based factory to mark the milestone birthday.

Packed with fruit, Yorvale’s extensive range of ice cream and sorbet contain no artificial flavourings or additives and are made using locally sourced ingredients wherever possible. Yorvale’s creamy taste is due to a high (10%) butterfat content and a low (60%) over run that delivers exceptional flavour and mouth feel.

Yorvale uses traditional methods and the finest local ingredients to produce rich and creamy dairy ice cream. Its superior taste is attributed to the fact that Yorvale’s family herd of dairy cows graze on lush Yorkshire grass and because they only ever produce milk for ice cream, they only need to be milked once a day.  The result is stress free cows that produce really creamy milk for superior tasting ice cream.

Yorvale ice cream is available nationwide via selected wholesalers and from farm shops, Co-Op, Sainsburys, Tesco and Morrisons throughout Yorkshire.  Please visit www.yorvale.co.uk/products_stockists/html for more information.

The Made in Britain Best Farm Entrepreneur competition, run by Farmers Guardian in conjunction with the Country Living and Waitrose Made in Britain awards, was established to reward farm businesses that offer a quality product and can demonstrate innovation, ambition and a real entrepreneurial spirit. 

A York ice cream manufacturer is celebrating after extending its contract to supply SAGA cruise liners.

Yorvale, York’s only dairy ice cream maker, has been awarded a contract to supply all three cruise liners with an extended range of its premium ice cream and includes new season flavours Kit’s Blueberry and Ruby Red Cherry. 

The Acaster Malbis producer now supplies all three of Saga’sluxurious cruise ships with 23 flavours of ice cream and seven sorbets that are served to guests during the two and three week cruises that embark at twice monthly intervals.  Amongst the increased range is Kit’s Blueberry, winner of Yorvale’s 20th anniversary competition and named after 13 year old Kit Fletcher from Weaverthorpe, Malton and a Yorkshire Lemon Curd recipe that was created for the Queen when she visited Royal Ascot at York.

Yorvale’s Lesley Buxton is delighted with the win “This is our third season with Saga and we’re delighted that it’s growing at such a pace.  We won the business based on taste, innovative recipe development, rigourous quality control systems and exceptional customer service and it’s good to know that we continue to exceed expectations.  It’s a great achievement for all of the Yorvale team.”

Yorvale uses traditional methods and the finest local ingredients to produce rich and creamy dairy ice cream. Its superior tasting ice cream is attributed to the fact that their herd of dairy cows graze on lush Yorkshire grass and because they only ever produce milk for ice cream, they only need to be milked once a day.  The result is stress free cows that produce really creamy milk for superior tasting ice cream.

Yorvale Real Dairy Ice Cream is available throughout Yorkshire from independent and multiple retailers including Sainsburys, Morrisons, Co-Op and Tesco and in the Castle Museum, Creepy Crawlies and Museum Gardens.

The Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor John Beddington has accepted an invitation from the Regional Food Group for Yorkshire and Humber (RFG) to visit several food producers in the area.

Professor Beddington will be discussing with each producer the effects that the Government’s vision for a sustainable food system will have on Yorkshire’s food and drink industry, and how it will look by 2030.

As an independent report finds that Yorkshire farm shops can compete with major supermarkets, an award winning York ice cream maker is urging shoppers to support local retailers as the Easter countdown begins.

The report, commissioned by the Regional Food Group for Yorkshire and Humber (RFG) and conducted by an independent auditor, compared products from 20 Yorkshire farm shops with supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsburys and online retailer Ocado over a three month period.  It concluded that the farm shops were up to 20% cheaper for everyday staples like meat, eggs and some vegetables.

Yorvale owner Lesley Buxton says; “Since we made our first ice cream 20 years ago the support that we have had from local farm shops, garden centres, farmers markets and independent retailers and their customers has been amazing.”

“The findings of the Regional Food Group bears out what we have suspected all along; that by reducing distribution costs and selling fresh, seasonal produce direct to the public, farm shops and farmers markets are able to compete with multiple retailers.  It’s great news for the region’s economy.”

Yorvale uses traditional methods and the finest local ingredients to produce rich and creamy dairy ice cream. Its superior tasting ice cream is attributed to the fact that their herd of dairy cows graze on lush Yorkshire grass and because they only ever produce milk for ice cream, they only need to be milked once a day.  The result is stress free cows that produce really creamy milk for superior tasting ice cream.

Yorvale ice cream is available from selected farm shops and independent retailers including The Farmer’s Cart at Strensall, The Organic Pantry at Newton Kyme and Brunswick Organic Nursery at Bishopthorpe.

A York ice cream manufacturer is one of several businesses that will represent Yorkshire at a leading speciality food and drink exhibition next week.

Yorvale, York’s only dairy ice cream maker, will join other deliciouslyorkshire producers from Yorkshire’s Regional Food Group at the 2010 Food and Drink Expo at Birmingham’s NEC from 21st-24th March.

Food and Drink Expo is a global food and drink event that is dedicated to innovation and Yorvale will use the event to showcase the new flavours and trade support that it has developed in celebration of its 21st birthday in May.

New flavours include Red Cherry, Rhubarb and Blueberry, the flavour created by 12 year old Kit Fletcher from Malton; winner of Yorvale’s 20th anniversary competition.

Lesley Buxton explains the significance of the exhibition to Yorvale’s business; “Although our real dairy ice cream is made on the farm in the heart of Yorkshire, it’s enjoyed throughout Britain thanks to our nationwide network of distributors. We’re going to Food and Drink Expo to look for inspiration and new opportunities.”

Yorvale uses traditional methods and the finest local ingredients to produce rich and creamy dairy ice cream. Its superior tasting ice cream is attributed to the fact that their herd of dairy cows graze on lush Yorkshire grass and because they only ever produce milk for ice cream, they only need to be milked once a day.  The result is stress free cows that produce really creamy milk for superior tasting ice cream.

Yorvale is a proud sponsor of this year’s Sunflower Ball that raises valuable funds for St Leonard’s Hospice.

deliciouslyorkshire is the championing brand of the Regional Food Group that works to promote food and drink producers in Yorkshire and the Humber regions.

Mum’s Honeycomb Heaven

You will need 

Biscuit Base

375g digestive biscuits

75g soft butter

50g dark chocolate chips

50g milk chocolate chips.

Ice cream filling

2 x 500ml tubs Yorvale caramel honeycomb ice cream  

Topping

300g golden syrup

100g light muscovado sugar

75g butter

pinch of salt

125ml double cream

To make Mum’s Honeycomb Heaven

(Please ask a grown up to help with the cutting and heating)

1.  Place all of the biscuit base ingredients in a food processor and blitz until mixed.

2.  Press into the base of a 23cm loose bottomed cake tin.  Place in freezer to harden.

3. Allow the ice cream to soften slightly, spoon on top of biscuit base and press down slightly, cover with clingfilm and place in freezer.

4. To make the topping, place syrup, sugar, salt and butter in a saucepan and melt over low heat, then bring to boil for 5 minutes.

5. Allow to cool slightly, add cream and cool.  When cold pour over ice cream.  Place in freezer until you are ready to serve. 

When ready to serve run a warmed knife inside cake tin to loosen, release clips on tin.  Allow to soften slightly and portion with a heated knife.

York ice cream manufacturer Yorvale is celebrating after reporting record sales for the second year in succession.

Yorvale is York’s only dairy ice cream maker and attributes its 18% year on year increase in sales to regional and national business gains combined with a growing consumer desire to support local businesses.

The Acaster Malbis based farm business gained new business in food service and retail accounts including prestigious listings with Booths and Co-op stores throughout Yorkshire. Yorvale’s Lesley Buxton is delighted with the results “We have worked hard to win the new business over the last year and it’s particularly satisfying that almost all of our growth in the retail sector has come from Yorkshire. We are delighted by the support that we have had from Booths and the Co-op and attractions including York Theatre Royal and the York Castle Museum as they help to spread the word about how delicious our ice cream is.” Lesley, and her husband, Ian, started Yorvale with a single ice cream van in 1989 and now enjoy a turnover of over £650,000. 

Lesley and Ian are also confident that the national Farm Entrepreneur of the Year competition that they won in 2009 will result in listings with other retailers including Waitrose in 2010.

An award winning York dairy ice cream manufacturer is launching three seasonal ice creams to celebrate the festive season.

Yorvale, York’s only dairy ice cream maker, has created the ice creams as a limited edition special for farm shops, delis, independent retailers and tourist attractions throughout Yorkshire.

Lesley Buxton is responsible for creating new recipes for the popular ice cream range and came up with Plum and Armagnac ice cream whilst trying to create a gluten free dessert for a dinner party.  Lesley explains “It’s a really simple recipe.  Juicy plums are soaked in Armagnac and mixed with milk, double cream and sugar for a delicious, gluten free alternative to Christmas Pudding.”

Yorvale’s Mince Pie Ice Cream is a great accompaniment to, or substitute for, traditional Christmas Pudding and is made using milk from Yorvale’s family herd of cows, double cream and sweet mincemeat from Bracken Hill Foods at Elvington.  Lesley has also created a seasonal baked Alaska recipe that is available to download here.

The final product is a real winter warmer that is great if you’ve got a cold, or a sore throat, jokes Lesley.  Whisky and Ginger ice cream is made from double cream, whisky liqueur and crunchy ginger pieces that’s just the tonic for winter ailments.

Yorvale uses traditional methods and the finest local ingredients to produce rich and creamy dairy ice cream. Its superior tasting ice cream is attributed to the fact that their herd of dairy cows graze on lush Yorkshire grass and because they only ever produce milk for ice cream, they only need to be milked once a day.  The result is stress free cows that produce really creamy milk for superior tasting ice cream.

The 500ml tubs of limited edition dairy ice creams are available now from selected farm shops and independent retailers throughout Yorkshire.

An 11 year old boy from Weaverthorpe and a Harrogate mum had a half term holiday treats with a difference as they visited a York ice cream factory this week.

Kit Fletcher and Melissa Peakman were invited by Acaster Malbis ice cream manufacturer, Yorvale, to visit the factory after their ice cream flavours won first prize in Yorvale’s 20th anniversary competition to discover innovative ice cream flavours.

Kit, winner of the children’s category, saw his blueberry ice cream being made and left the factory with a year’s supply of the ice cream that he described as being “better than chocolate.”

Kit, a pupil at Weaverthorpe Primary School, explained why he had chosen blueberry; “I chose blueberry as it’s healthy and delicious.  I love blueberry pancakes and thought that the ice cream would go well with it.”  His Mum Michelle added; “His idea of heaven would be a pipe full of ice cream running from Yorvale straight into our freezer!”

Melissa, the winner in the adult category, visited the factory to see her Lemongrass and Ginger Sorbet in production.  She selected the flavour combination as she thought that it would be “fresh, crisp and up-to-the-minute” and she wasn’t disappointed.

Subject to listings, the ice cream will go on sale next Spring in farm shops and independent retailers in Yorkshire.

A York ice cream maker has expanded its facilities to meet increasing demand thanks to a Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) grant from Yorkshire Forward. 

Yorvale, York’s only dairy ice cream manufacturer based at Acaster Malbis, has received a £ 94,000 grant which has enabled the business to begin work on a 400m2 extension that will create several jobs for local people.

RDPE has £63m to invest in rural businesses over a six year period through a number of programmes. Yorvale accessed their grant through the Rural Enterprise Investment Programme which offers grants starting from £25,000 and is available to rural businesses wanting to grow and become more productive.

Yorvale’s Ian Buxton said; “It’s very encouraging that we able to extend the Yorvale business in these economic times.  We have been fortunate in that we have grown our business significantly over the last three years and desperately need more space to service our growing number of local and national customers.” 

Ian’s wife Lesley, who is responsible for sales and new product development at the farm based business added; “We’ve had great support from Yorkshire Forward.  Times are tough for dairy farmers following the collapse of the Dairy Farmers of Britain co-operative, but the Rural Development Programme encourages businesses like ours to access funding in order to expand whilst helping to transform the region’s rural economy.”

Andy Tordoff, Assistant Director of Environment at Yorkshire Forward commented;  

“The Rural Enterprise Investment Programme can be accessed by businesses like Yorvale that process and add value to agricultural produce, also farm diversification businesses, tourism, forestry businesses and other rural micro businesses. RDPE is a flexible package that can be accessed by many rural businesses; we are working hard with our partners to ensure Yorkshire and Humber’s rural businesses take advantage of it.”

RDPE is managed by Yorkshire Forward and is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union. For further information on the different RDPE programmes please visit; www.yorkshire-forward.com/rdpe

A North Yorkshire real dairy ice cream manufacturer is celebrating after being short-listed in a national food excellence competition within weeks of winning the Farmers Guardian Best Farm Entrepreneur award.

Acaster Malbis based Yorvale one of only four food businesses to reach the final of the Food Manufacture Excellence Award for the best Small Business of the Year.

The awards honour the very best food and drink manufacturing companie and Yorvale reached the final by impressing the judges across a range of criteria including category and supply chain management, new product development; health, safety and environmental management and marketing.

Yorvale is competing against London based Alara Wholefoods, Devon based hand fried crisps manufacturer Burts and last year’s winner, Mash Direct from Northern Ireland.

Yorvale’s owners Ian and Lesley Buxton now have to wait until an awards dinner at London’s Marriott Grosvenor Square Hotel on 11th November to find out whether they will add another prestigious national award to their burgeoning trophy cabinet.  Lesley Buxton

is looking forward to the event; “We’ve had a fabulous 20th anniversary year.  To be short-listed for a national farming award is amazing, but to win that and be short-listed for a national food excellence award is unbelievable.”

A York real dairy ice cream business has been crowned the 2009 Made in Britain Best Farm Entrepreneur by a national farming publication.

Acaster Malbis based Yorvale was one of four short-listed farm businesses at the awards presentation at the Royal County of Berkshire Showground on 19th September.

The aim of the competition, run by Farmers Guardian in conjunction with the Country Living  and Waitrose Made in Britain awards, was to discover a farm business that offers a quality product and can demonstrate innovation, ambition and a real entrepreneurial spirit.  Seven businesses were shortlisted earlier in the year and an online public vote decided who would make it to the final four.

Yorvale’s Lesley Buxton was at the Newbury showground to receive the award and was delighted to win: “We faced stiff competition from the other finalists so were amazed to win, but we had a fantastic day and it was great to meet other farm businesses.

We know that Yorvale is a great business that makes quality ice cream, but it’s nice to know that other people think so too - it will be good to add ‘award-winning’ to our strapline of ‘real dairy ice cream made on the farm in the heart of Yorkshire.”

The other finalists in the Farm Entrepreneur competition were Anna’s Happy Trotters from Howden, East Yorkshire, Cothi Valley Goats, Carmarthenshire and Starke Naked Foods, Suffolk.  In addition to the title, Yorvale wins £5,000 from Waitrose and will be given the opportunity to have its real dairy ice cream stocked in their prestigious stores.

The Country Living and Waitrose Made in Britain Awards also crowned Isle of Gigha Fish company, Gigha Halibut, Food Champion of the Year 2009.

Yorvale is currently stocked in independent retailers, farm shops, Booths and selected Tesco, Co-Op, Sainsburys and Morrisons stores and is available to foodservice clients nationwide through its network of distributors.

York’s only dairy ice cream manufacturer, Yorvale, is proud to announce the winners of a special competition.

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Yorvale has run a competition asking people to come up with their own innovative ideas for new ice cream flavours.

Lesley Buxton, who founded Yorvale with her husband, Ian, said: “We had two categories for this competition: The Heritage category was about a flavour idea that reflects the food tastes of the last 20 years and the Futuristic category called on people to use their imagination to create a flavour to reflect what they think the next 20 years has in store.”

The competition attracted over 200 entries, with some weird and wonderful ideas including Moonberry and stardust, avocado, armagnac and prune and even peanut butter.

Lesley Buxton said: “We pretty much had every suggestion you could imagine but winning entries were judged on originality, how easy they would be to produce in the factory and of course, whether people would actually buy them.”

The winner in the Heritage Category was Kit Fletcher, aged 10 from Weaverthorpe near Malton whose blueberry ice cream is sure to refresh during a sizzling summer.

The Futuristic category was won by Melissa Peakman from Harrogate who said her Lemongrass and Ginger sorbet would be “fresh, crisp and up-to-the minute.”

The winning flavours are going into Yorvale’s New Product Development kitchen to be perfected in time for the winners to be invited to see their ideas coming off the production line in September.  The winners also get a year’s free supply of their invention, or a flavour of their choice.

Lesley Buxton said “The response to the competition was incredible and it’s amazing how creative people have been. It just goes to show how many different tastes there are to cater for.

She added: “It’s great that people love our better-selling ideas but people are always keen to try something new and we are always working hard to find something different that everyone will love. Let’s just hope the public enjoy Blueberry ice and Lemongrass and Ginger sorbet as much as we do!”

Defra Rural Affairs and Environment Minister Dan Norris was given a first-hand taste of traditional Yorkshire ice-cream making when he visited a family-run dairy ice cream business near York.

Acaster Malbis based Yorvale, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, has just been awarded a £94,000 grant from Defra’s rural development programme to enable them to buy new equipment, create more storage and expand the business.

The Minister met co-owners Ian and Lesley Buxton and got hands on experience when he helped out in the factory and filled a five-litre tub of peaches and cream ice-cream, a flavour created specially to mark the company’s 20th anniversary. 

Yorvale’s Ian Buxton was delighted that the Minister was able to visit; “We’re very grateful to Defra for the support that this grant gives us and we hope to be able to create job opportunities that will benefit our rural community.”

After touring the production facilities, Dan Norris took a look at the farm’s 35-strong dairy herd, whose milk has to travel just a few metres to make the rich Yorkshire ice cream that is enjoyed all over Yorkshire and beyond.

An Acaster Malbis real dairy ice cream manufacturer is helping Tesco to celebrate Yorkshire Day in style.

 On 1st August Yorvale will join other regional suppliers to Tesco on the branded trailer at its flagship Askham Bar store to showcase the best of Yorkshire’s food and drink. 

Tesco’s Regional Marketing Manager, Elizabeth Rouse, comments;“Yorvale is one of Yorkshire's fantastic local suppliers that we have supported since we began our local sourcing initiative in October 2007. Yorvale represent the very best of what’s available on our doorstep and are always popular with the crowds.”  

Yorvale’s co-owner Lesley Buxton is looking forward to the event, “We’re Yorkshire born and bred and make our ice cream on the family farm in the heart of Yorkshire, so it’s wholly appropriate that we take part in this great Tesco initiative.”

Yorkshire real dairy ice cream manufacturer Yorvale has invested significantly in new marketing tools to support its growing customer base.

In its twentieth anniversary year, Yorvale has launched branded scooping, counter top and upright freezer and point of sale deals in a bid to drive sales of its popular ice creams and sorbets nationwide.

Yorvale co-owner Ian Buxton explains what prompted the investment;  “Over the last couple of years, we have gained so much business outside of our Yorkshire heartland that we saw the opportunity to further promote the brand with stylish point of sale material and branded freezers.”

Lesley Buxton continues; “We spent a long time making sure that the deals were right and we’re pleased with the response.  The deals have been very well received and people have commented that the quality of the swing boards, flags and menu cards is helping to drive ice cream sales.”

A J7 Freezer deal comprises a scooping freezer, swing board, ice cream names, flag and a chalk board and comes with free stock to cover the purchase cost.  For more information, contact Lesley Buxton on 01904 706702 or e mail lesley@yorvale.co.uk.

Yorvale uses traditional methods and the finest

local ingredients to produce rich and creamy dairy ice cream. Its superior tasting ice cream is attributed to the fact that their herd of dairy cows graze on lush Yorkshire grass and because they only ever produce milk for Yorvale ice cream, they are not under any yield pressure and enjoy a stress free life and make really creamy milk. 

Yorvale Real Dairy Ice Cream is available nationwide though distributors including Kent FrozenFoods, Pilgrim Foodservice, Windsor Food service, Miller Food Service, Eden Farm and Turner and Price and throughout Yorkshire from independent and multiple retailers including Sainsburys, Booths, Morrisons and Tesco.

Yorvale is celebrating its twentieth anniversary by launching a competition to find four new ice cream flavours that will go into production in the Summer Holidays.

The competition is open to everybody and the prize is a year's worth of your winning ice cream plus the chance to see it being made in the factory.

There are two categories and you are welcome to enter both;

The Heritage category is looking for a flavour idea that reflects the food tastes of the last 20 years whilst the Futuristic category calls on people to use their imagination to create a flavour to reflect what they think the next 20 years has in store. There will be two winners in each category - one for entrants aged 15 and under and one for entrants 16 and over and, subject to recipe development, production will take place in August 2009.

Simply e mail your suggestions with the category, your full name, address with postcode, age and parental consent (if 16 or under) or send it to Yorvale Anniversary Ice Cream Competition, York House, All Saints Drive, Shiptonthorpe, YO43 3PQ.  The closing date is 20th July.  Please click here for the competition rules.

A York family business is celebrating after gaining a premium pitch for its best selling ice cream.

 From 1st April, Yorvale, the Acaster Malbis ice cream maker, will be selling its real dairy ice cream from a mobile unit in York’s St. Sampson’s Square for the first time in its 20 year history. 

A delighted Lesley Buxton from Yorvale said; “We’re really looking forward to being in the heart of York.  We’ll be selling 12 of our most popular flavours including lemon curd, double chocolate and strawberry between 10am and 6pm from April to September and we look forward to seeing customers old and new.” 

One of the first customers to be served was Nathalie Harper from Copmanthorpe who commented;  “It’s great to be able to buy premium dairy ice cream in the centre of town and the fact that it’s made only a few miles away is even better.” 

Yorvale uses traditional methods and the finest local ingredients to produce rich and creamy dairy ice cream. Its superior tasting ice cream is attributed to the fact that their herd of dairy cows graze on lush Yorkshire grass and because they only ever produce milk for ice cream, they only need to be milked once a day.  The result is stress free cows that produce really creamy milk for superior tasting ice cream.

A York family business is encouraging children to treat their mothers and grandmas to a delicious Mother’s Day surprise this year.

Yorvale, the Acaster Malbis ice cream maker, has created a special easy to follow recipe for children to make a surprise dessert for Mothering Sunday on 22nd March.

Using easy to find and locally sourced ingredients where possible, mother of two and Yorvale director, Lesley Buxton, has devised Mum’s Meringue Moments (recipe below)

Lesley explains what prompted the recipe; “I wanted to find a way that children could help to make Mother’s Day special and could think of nothing better than kids making a gorgeous dessert to show how much they care.  The recipe is simple enough to be made by young children with supervision or by older children on their own”

Mum’s Meringue Moments

You will need

A packet of meringue nests (available from farm shops and local retailers)

Mum’s favourite ice cream (we bet it’s Yorvale!)

A punnet of strawberries

A medium sized bar (about 100g) of plain or milk chocolate or some Hibiscus with wild Strawberry coulis from Bracken Hill Fine Foods (available from farm shops)

To make Mum’s Meringue Moments

(Please ask a grown up to help with the cutting and heating if necessary)

1. Take the ice cream out of the freezer to allow it to soften slightly
2. Now prepare the strawberries by washing them and cutting off the stalks.  Cut them into quarters with a sharp knife and pat dry with some kitchen towel.
3. Next make the chocolate sauce by breaking up the chocolate and putting in a small bowl over a pan of boiling water until the chocolate melts.  Turn off the heat and stir the chocolate until smooth.
4. Finally, take the nests, pile high with ice cream, decorate with strawberries and drizzle with either the chocolate sauce or the coulis.
5. Transfer to a bowl or a plate and watch Mum’s face as you present them to her!

A York ice cream manufacturer is one of several businesses that will represent Yorkshire at Europe’s biggest innovation exhibition next month.

Yorvale, York’s only dairy ice cream maker, will join 15 other deliciouslyorkshire producers from Yorkshire’s Regional Food Group at the International Food and Drink Event (IFE) at ExCel, London from 15-18th March.

IFE is a global food and drink event that is dedicated to innovation and Yorvale will use the event to showcase the new flavours and packaging that it has developed in celebration of its 20th anniversary.

New flavours include Peaches and Cream, Exotic Liqueur Whisky and Ginger, Sour Morello Cherry and Almond Toffee, all of which will be available in single serve pots that are designed to drive impulse purchases.

Lesley Buxton explains the significance of the exhibition to Yorvale’s business; “Although our real dairy ice cream is made on the farm in the heart of Yorkshire, it’s enjoyed throughout Britain thanks to our nationwide network of distributors. We’re going to IFE to look for inspiration and new opportunities.”

A York ice cream manufacturer is celebrating after a planning permission decision was overturned following an appeal.

Yorvale, York’s only dairy ice cream maker, had applied to build a 750m² extension to its Acaster Malbis production site but the application was rejected on the grounds of the City of York’s green belt policy.  

Desperate for the extension to accommodate their growing business, Yorvale’s owners Ian and Lesley Buxton decided to challenge the decision. Ian Buxton explains; “We have worked hard to grow our business and in order to grow further and provide jobs for local people, we need additional storage space. We were naturally disappointed with the original outcome, but we knew that our livelihoods depended on the decision being overruled, so we decided to appeal.” The appeal was successful and now the ice cream entrepreneurs are looking forward to celebrating their 20th anniversary with an extension that doubles the size of their factory. 

Lesley Buxton concludes; “We’re very fortunate to be able to expand in these uncertain economic times and are really looking forward to the opportunities that the new building will afford the business.  The original factory was built by Ian and his Dad as we couldn’t afford to employ contractors back in 1999, but we’re hoping that we’ll be able to pay professionals this time!”

A York ice cream manufacturer is celebrating after reporting record sales for 2008.

 Yorvale, York’s only dairy ice cream maker, attributes its 10% year on year increase in sales to regional and national business gains combined with a growing consumer desire to support local business.  

Acaster Malbis based Yorvale gained new business worth over £100,000 per annum  in 2008 by gaining prestigious accounts including Saga Cruises, York Races, York Theatre Royal, Tesco and 41 Co-op stores throughout Yorkshire. 

Yorvale’s Lesley Buxton is delighted with the results “We have worked hard to win the new business over the last year and it’s particularly satisfying that almost half of our growth has come from Yorkshire. We are delighted by the support that we have had from York businesses like Creepy Crawlies, York Theatre Royal and the York Castle Museum as they have all helped to raise awareness of our ice cream. Perhaps our wacky fundraising endeavours like selling yellow ice cream for St Leonard’s Hospice or running the Race for Life as a herd of cows might have helped, too!” 

Lesley, and her husband, Ian, started Yorvale with a single ice cream van in 1989 and now enjoy a turnover of over £500,000.

A leading Yorkshire ice cream manufacturer has been invited to provide dessert for the world’s oldest gastronomic society.

On 27th November, The West Riding Branch of The International Wine & Food Society is hosting a dinner for its members and guests with food and drink sourced from the finalists of the recent deliciouslyorkshire food awards.

Yorvale, York’s only dairy ice cream maker, will be providing its Yorkshire Lemon Curd Ice Cream, shortlisted in the Dairy Category and its new, limited Xmas edition Mince Pie Dairy Ice Cream. The lemon curd ice cream is based on a recipe that was created for the Queen at Ascot in 2005 and both the lemon curd and mincemeat are supplied by Elvingon’s Bracken Hill Fine Foods.

The Society’s Penny Wood is delighted with the collaboration; “It’s great to have such fantastic products from high quality, innovative producers like Yorvale on our doorstep. As a society we pride ourselves in supporting local businesses. We are all looking forward to our deliciouslyorkshire dinner.”

A York ice cream manufacturer is celebrating after gaining a contract to supply 41 Co-op stores throughout Yorkshire.

Yorvale, York’s only dairy ice cream maker, has secured a listing for its best selling Dairy Vanilla ice cream in 500ml tubs in a deal worth over £20,000 per annum.

The contract sees the Acaster Malbis producer supplying its rich and creamy Indonesian Bourbon Vanilla Ice to Co-op stores from Haxby to Harrogate in good time for the busy Christmas season.

Yorvale’s Lesley Buxton is delighted with the listing “The timing is just perfect.  Christmas is a time when people traditionally trade up from standard to luxury ice cream and the Co-op listing will make it easier for people to buy our best-selling rich and creamy Indonesian Bourbon Vanilla flavoured ice cream”

A competition to find an unusual ice cream has been won by a drunken fig!

Throughout the summer, York Castle Museum held a competition to find an ice cream flavour to rival some of the bizarre historic flavours discovered by assistant curator of social history, Gwendolen Whitaker that included parmesan, egg and bacon and pea and mint.

The ‘Inventa Flavour’ competition formed part of the Museum’s look at the history of Ice Cream and was open to visitors of all ages. The winner would have  their idea made into a reality by York’s only real dairy ice cream manufacturer, Yorvale.

The winning suggestion was Drunken Figs and Almond and was created by Tracey Graham of Kendal.  Yorvale combined figs, marsala wine and almonds with creamy milk from Yorvale’s family herd and double cream to make a delicious ice cream that will be presented to Tracey and her family on 15th November at the Castle Museum.

York Castle Museum’s Gwendolen Whitaker said: "People really let their imaginations run riot with this competition, there was a brilliant range of flavours put forward.

"In the end we all agreed that Drunken Fig sounded too good to ignore and we all can't wait to try it."  Other entries included Calpol flavour, Yorkshire pudding, cardomon and pomegranate, ginger parkin, and curry!

A local leading ice cream manufacturer is celebrating after winning a £25,000 contract to supply York’s leading theatre.

Yorvale, York’s only dairy ice cream maker, will be supplying York Theatre Royal with Dairy vanilla, strawberry, double chocolate and caramel honeycomb from its range of popular real dairy ice cream, in time for the busy panto season.

York Theatre Royal’s Deputy Front of House Manager, Maria Bewers, is delighted with the collaboration; “We pride ourselves on offering freshly prepared, tasty and wholesome refreshments using the highest quality local ingredients, so it was great to find such a delicious ice cream with no artificial additives so close to home.”

Lesley Buxton from Yorvale is equally pleased; “The timing is perfect. Panto season is approaching and our single serve tubs have a new look and a new usherette tray.  We’re looking forward to a very successful partnership.”

Yorvale sells its dairy ice cream through independent and multiple retailers and at selected York tourist attractions and race meetings throughout the season.

As British Food Fortnight begins (20th September to 5th October) a York farm diversification business reports that business is booming despite the gloomy economy and inclement weather.

 Yorvale’s Lesley Buxton is pleased with sales of the company’s real dairy ice cream; “Contrary to expectations and bad weather, we are enjoying a good September.  I think that people are adopting a back to basics approach and are choosing to shop locally at independent retailers and farm shops rather than travelling further afield.  We are a small producer with a great network of retailers throughout North Yorkshire and this is great news for us and for the region’s economy.”

Now in its seventh year, British Food Fortnight is the biggest national celebration of the diverse and delicious range of food that Britain produces and continues to be the largest volunteer movement educating children about food.

A York ice cream manufacturer is celebrating after gaining a contract to supply SAGA cruise liners.

Yorvale, York’s only dairy ice cream maker, successfully completed a trial on one ship earlier in the year and has now been awarded a contract to supply all three cruise liners. 

Worth £50,000 per annum, the contract sees the Acaster Malbis producer supplying 21 flavours of ice cream and seven sorbets that will be served to guests during the two and three week cruises that embark at twice monthly intervals.  Amongst the flavours is a Yorkshire Lemon Curd recipe that was created for the Queen when she visited Royal Ascot at York, Caramel and Almond, Whisky and Ginger, Maple and Walnut and Peaches & Cream.

Yorvale’s Lesley Buxton is delighted with the win “We beat off some stiff competition to win this prestigious account and it was ultimately the taste of our product combines with our rigourous quality control systems and exceptional customer service that won the business.  It’s a great achievement for all of the Yorvale team.”

Hot on the heels of a week long fundraiser for St Leonard’s Hospice, a York ice cream manufacturer has entered a team in York’s Race for Life.

Yorvale, York’s only dairy ice cream maker, has entered a team of 12 of employees, friends and family into the 5K Knavesmire race on 6th July.

Running in bespoke cow print tee shirts, the team’s age may range from 8 to 46 but all share the common goal of having fun whilst raising valuable funds for Cancer Research UK.  One of the team members is Yorvale’s production assistant Debbie Richmond who says “Between us, we’re aiming to raise lots of money to fund research into women’s cancers.  It’s a very emotional, but inspirational race and we’re all really looking forward to it.”

The York Race for Life has attracted over 9,000 runners and aims to raise almost £500,000 through sponsorship. 

A York ice cream manufacturer has created a second special ice cream for York Races.

Yorvale, York’s only dairy ice cream maker, supplies the hospitality areas at the racecourse with a range of flavours and also creates a special recipe for each festival. 

The festival special that will celebrate the second meeting of the season on 13th June is White Chocolate and Yorkshire Rhubarb. Based on a recipe that was created with indulgence in mind, piquant Yorkshire rhubarb is rippled with the sweetest, creamiest real white chocolate to create an ice cream that is divine.

Director of Yorvale, Ian Buxton, says “Oldroyd’s famous Yorkshire rhubarb is the best you can get and makes a fantastic ice cream where the cream and the chocolate cut through the tartness of the rhubarb beautifully.”

Race-goers will also have the opportunity to try other flavours from the family owned ice cream maker including Strawberry and Clotted Cream, English Butter Toffee, Vanilla with Vanilla Pod and Praline Pecan.

A local dairy ice cream maker is supporting a fundraising effort following last year's washout.

The Galtres Spring Show is being held on 8th June as a fun and unaffiliated fundraiser after last year's main show in July had to be cancelled due to flooding.

Acaster Malbis based Yorvale will be taking a mobile unit to the show and is encouraging people to support the event. Co-owner Ian Buxton says "It's always a great show, so come along for a great day out and help the committee to recoup some of the costs that were incurred through last year's cancellation."

The show takes place at Easingwold, Huby by kind permission of Mr J Ritchie of Penny Flatts Farm. Entry is on the day for an extensive range of showing and jumping classes. For more details, please call 07791 041788 or 0870 2241062, email jjhuby@btinternet.com or visit www.hubyandsuttonshow.co.uk. The main show Huby and Hutton Show will take place on 27th July 2008 at Sutton Park, Sutton on Forest, York.

Yorvale uses traditional methods and the finest local ingredients to produce rich and creamy dairy ice cream. Yorvale's superior tasting ice cream is attributed to the fact that the herd of dairy cows graze on lush Yorkshire grass and because they only ever produce milk for ice cream, they only need to be milked once a day. The result is stress free cows that produce the really creamy milk that makes the best ice cream.

A York Cafe is collaborating with a local Ice Cream Manufacturer to host a tasting day.

Yorvale, York's only dairy ice cream maker has recently been chosen to supply the two Krumbs cafes in York and Acomb and will be involved in a tasting day on 28th May.

The Krumbs Cafes on Tanner Row, York and West Bank Park, Acomb are part of the national charity United Response, www.unitedresponse.org.uk that works in partnership with City of York Council to give people with learning disabilities vocational training with the aim of preparing them for future jobs.

Director of Yorvale, Lesley Buxton says "United Response does such a great job and we're delighted to be supporting the Krumbs cafes. We're looking forward to working with the staff on the tasting day on 28th may and welcoming them to our factory for a tour and training day in the future."

Andy Lodge is the Catering Manager at Krumbs and explains what the opportunities mean to the Students; "Our Students work in all areas of the Cafe learning aspects of the Catering industry which goes towards an NVQ Qualification in Hospitality. This gives them the opportunity to go on to paid employment."

Set up over 30 years ago, United Response supports people with learning disabilities or mental health needs to live in the community throughout England and in Wales and works with around 1,500 people at any one time.