A North Yorkshire ice cream maker took home the top award at the prestigious National Ice Cream Competition.
The ice cream company Ryeburn of Helmsley were crowned the National Ice Cream Champion, at what was the 80th anniversary of the industry event.
Former dairy farmer David Otterburn picked up the accolade on behalf of his family business, which was awarded for their Hazelnut Dream ice cream creation.
Makers and sellers of the family favourite treat gathered at the Yorkshire Event Centre for this year’s Ice Cream and Artisan Food Show. Organised by the Ice Cream Alliance, the three-day expo showcases the best of the best, and finishes with the award ceremony.
Other award categories include Best of Flavour, Best of Vanilla, and Soft Serve.
David, 58, who has been in the business for over 35 years, said: “This means the world to me and a wonderful reward for a lot of hard work. It was a surprise to win because we’re up against such stiff opposition from across the UK. The Michael Minchella award is such a touching moment for me as he’s my hero and he taught me so much.”
Michael Minchella joined his family ice cream business at aged 15, and celebrated many accolades as well as becoming president of the Ice Cream Alliance in 1990. He died in 2022, aged 73.
“I moved from dairy farming to ice cream after becoming bogged down with EU red tape and quotas and we haven’t looked back,” added David.
“It’s a very competitive world but the first to congratulate you are always your rivals. It’s a big family in many ways.”
To find out more about Ryeburn of Helmsley, visit their website here.