Penny Licks is looking to grow further after scooping up several awards at the Royal Highland Show’s Scottish Ice Cream Championships
A Clackmannanshire based ice cream business is looking to expand into retail units after the business owner accessed support from Business Gateway.
Penny Licks, based in Tillicoultry, opened in the summer of 2022, after owner Stephen Sloper started making ice cream as part of a lockdown project.
The traditional ‘Penny Lick’ was a small glass used for serving ice cream that was sold by street vendors in London throughout the 19th and 20th century.
These glass cups of ice cream were sold for a penny and were licked clean and returned to the vendor to be re-used.
Determined to bring something fresh to the local community, the family-run business prides itself on its freshly made artisan ice creams, which are all made on site.
Penny Licks also has a range of sweet and savoury foods on offer, from sweet Belgian waffles and homemade strawberry tarts to savoury paninis and baguettes.
Over the last two years, Sloper has made use of range of Business Gateway’s start-up and growth business services to help Penny Licks develop and grow.
This has included digital support to help with website development and search engine optimisation to help Penny Licks reach its target audience.
Since launching, the business has won Business Gateway’s Dragons’ Den style competition, HEAT, and also won a gold and four bronze awards at the Royal Highland Show’s Scottish Ice Cream Championships in June.
This marked the second year in a row that Penny Licks has won awards at the championships.
Sloper now has plans to expand into four retail units over the next few years, and will work with Business Gateway throughout this period of growth.
Stephen Sloper, Owner, Penny Licks, said: “As a small business owner, the support I’ve received from Business Gateway has been invaluable in helping my ice cream shop thrive.
“Their guidance has not only strengthened our foundation but has also given us the confidence to plan for further growth in the coming years.”
Mandy Campbell, Business Gateway Clackmannanshire adviser, said: “Penny Licks’ journey is quite remarkable, especially considering the business only launched two years ago.
“The business is a real staple in the local community, with lots of repeat customers, and I’ve no doubt its customer base will continue to grow over the years ahead.”
To find out more about how Business Gateway could help your business, visit https://bgateway.com.
