Rossi Ice Cream
About 
Rossi Ice Cream has been producing award-winning ice cream in Essex since 1932. With a long-standing heritage that continues to be loved by generations they have recently celebrated their 85th Anniversary!
The Journey
Rossi Ice Cream were seeking support for funding, as they were moving from very old premises to newer ones and in order to improve production and to keep up to date with the latest technologies and processes, they needed to buy additional equipment.
Support Provided
The Growth Hub carried out a diagnostic and identified a number of grants that Rossi Ice Cream could apply for. They have been awarded a LoCASE grant which enabled them to buy new equipment which is more reliable and energy efficient. It was installed into their new production facility which they moved into in December 2016. They are also in the process of applying for a SEBB grant for a new ripple machine.
“We have been able to increase production efficiency and sales on our 125ml tubs by 25%. This increase created a direct requirement to employ additional seasonal staff this year.”
Future of the business
The future of the business is strong. They now have the resources in place to increase our production capacity which has come at a great time. Rossi Ice Cream have just signed a 3 year European license agreement with Candy Crush. During the first phase of this agreement they have developed 3 bespoke flavours that are planned to be elevated to sales through National Distribution which could see a significant step change in the planned growth of the business.
They are looking at other grants recommended and hope to access these in the near future.
“Rossi’s now have the foundations in place to grow the business. We are well established with 85 years of trading but the business is financially fragile and without the grant would have struggled to improve the efficiency and reliability of our production facility. The Locase grant has given us the ability to increase our turnover and employ more staff.”