IT WAS a big scoop for the Local Scoop ice cream business at this year’s Food Drink Devon awards.
Three years after opening in Piermont Place, Dawlish, the company’s dairy-free, vegan dark chocolate sorbet won a top Gold award.
Owners Jack Martin and Emma Ireland also ‘scooped’ silver awards for three more of their handmade ice cream flavours - salted honey and pistachio, brown butter, maple and pecan and mascarpone and orange.
The sorbetto was the cream of the crop as Jack explained: ‘We are beaming with pride to have been awarded a Gold for our dark chocolate sorbetto.
‘It’s been a wow flavour for our customers from the day we created out and is now a go to for our events for a super luxurious dairy-free option.
‘It was a real honour to receive industry recognition along with some of Devon’s best ice cream and dairy producers and award-winning local retailers, some of who we have had the pleasure of crossing paths with along our journey so far.’
The couple’s handmade ice cream has been proving a hit from their Dawlish shop and at now travelling to events including the recent Powderham Food Festival.
Emma said the awards recognise the quality and ‘passion’ they have put into their products and are ‘very proud’ of what they have achieved over the last three years.
Jack said: ‘We do try to make non familiar flavour combinations to make restaurant quality ice cream all made using the best quality ingredients, sourced as locally as we can find.’
After a busy and successful summer season, the business will be open at weekends over the winter for the award-winning ice cream as well as waffles, milk shakes, cookies and brownies.
The couple, who are parents to daughter Maeve, also aim to support other local businesses and charities.
Emma said: ‘We like to try to do things in the community as we have such a good local following and it’s important as a business to give something back.’
Jack and Emma were joined at the awards ceremony by neighbours Ashcombe-based Shepherd Shack which receive praise for its artisan scotch eggs.