Our scoop-tacular history
1979
A scoop of inspiration: the little girl who dreamed big
Picture this: it’s 1979, and little 5-year-old Christina is pondering life’s big questions. Like, “why can’t we find yummy ice cream for our shop?” So, she does what any future ice cream mogul would do – she tells dad to make it himself!
Talk about a lightbulb moment! Christina’s bright idea churned into New Forest Ice Cream.
1983
From post office to production site
After Christina’s ice cream revelation, Lawrie and Sue Jenman sold up their quaint village post office to work on New Forest Ice Cream in earnest. The twins were busy at school, but sister, Karen and brother, Graham, were mixing (and tasting) alongside their parents. They purchased a small unit in Gordleton where they had the space to concentrate on the future of NFIC and develop the recipes that we know and love today.
1985
From single flavour to flavour troop!
Talk about a sweet success story! Our ice cream was so scrumptious, it couldn’t be contained in just one small unit. Word spread about our creamy creations, and soon, Lawrie and Sue were churning out batches. Local shops, pubs, and restaurants all wanted a piece of the action.
And just like that, New Forest Ice Cream went from village secret to local legend.
1990
Time to spread our wings (and scoops)!
Our ice cream dreams were getting too big once again! We had to say goodbye to Gordleton and scoop up our very own ice cream HQ on the edge of the New Forest National Park. We were whipping up new ice creams faster than you could say “sprinkles”. Sorbets joined the party, and we even squeezed our creamy goodness into mini tubs.
1992
The family flavour fiesta!
The business became a true family sundae when twins Niki and Christina joined their parents & brother Graham on the New Forest Ice Cream team. Cousin Dave Bishop was also scooped up to join the ranks.
2001
The great ice cream exodus: when scoops outgrow their tub
With New Forest Ice Cream showing up on shelves in shops and supermarkets, as well as cruise liners, restaurants and cafes, the business had once again outgrown its home.
After searching high and low across the New Forest National Park for a new home to no avail, we had to make the heart-melting choice to move our sales and distribution just outside the national park to Hounsdown.
2002
Scoops on wheels: our great ice cream motor joint
Due to popular demand, we decided to double our fleet of cool-mobile ice cream vans. Suddenly, we were nipping about like a cheeky fleet of delicious ice cream lorries, ready to deliver joy in frozen form!
With more wheels on the tarmac, we could spread our creamy cheer further and more often. Fancy a scoop in the north? Whoosh! Craving a sundae down south? Zoom!
2010
Going nationwide, from forest to firth
27 years later, and New Forest Ice Cream was spreading. We brought on a team of sales reps in locations such as London and Blackpool so we could make sure our ice cream was available across the country!
2012
Gold star treats!
We knew our ice cream was first class, but it turned out the Great Taste Award judges did too.
We won a hattrick of gold stars with our first entries, Vanilla, Liquorice ice cream & Sambuca sorbet.
These would not be the only award-winning flavours for New Forest Ice Cream, as we have gone onto a winning streak with 21 Great Taste awards now in our trophy cabinet.
2013
Full circle: back to our roots
2013 brought us back to our home, in the heart of the New Forest. We moved into a state of the art purpose built factory in Lymington. With all elements of the business now under one roof, we not only streamlined operations, but also ensured that our ice cream and sorbet would continue to be top notch.
2014
Going green: our eco-friendly scoop on sustainability
Living in the New Forest is like having Mother Nature as your next-door neighbour – and we’re not about to upset her with our ice cream shenanigans!
In 2014 we took the step of installing solar panels and a heat recovery system, reducing our environmental impact and proving that ice cream can taste good, and still be green.
2015
All in the family; a new scoop of leadership!
In 2015 there was a changing of the guard. Niki and Christina, with a couple of decades of hard work under their belt took over the business from Lawrie and Sue. Whilst this meant they had plenty of time for a relaxing retirement, Lawrie still liked to come to the office, and Sue’s expertise in production was still called upon.
2017
The tub take over
The introduction of our 500ml tubs brought eight new flavours to the shelves of newsagents, grocers, and farm shops across the south. With the fresh design, and bright colours, they quickly became a firm favourite.
2019
A new look for an old favourite!
After 36 years of scooping, we decided it was time for a bit of a nip and tuck. In 2019, we unveiled our new logo. Picture this: where the forest meets the sea. We’ve got leaves representing our forest home and waves for our coastal beauty. We’ve even kept our iconic blue and red colours as a nod to the history of New Forest Ice Cream.
2021
ColdWeb conquers
In 2021, we launched our online ordering system, making it easier for our lovely customers to get their ice cream fix. Whether it’s the crack of dawn or the middle of the night, you can now order at the touch of a button (or the click of a mouse).
2023
40 years and still churning
Our 40th anniversary! Four decades of history at New Forest Ice Cream – now that’s something to celebrate. And celebrate we did, with a new flavour: Ruby, a sophisticated blend of prosecco, white chocolate and raspberries.
From our first scoop in 1983 to our Ruby birthday bash, we’ve been on quite the adventure. Here’s to 40 more years of sweet dreams and icy schemes!
2024
Fresh beginnings
2024 is shaping up to be a great year. New look, new flavours, with the same commitment to making your taste buds dance with joy. Here’s to another year of sweet success!