Heatwave in Britain leads to boom in demand for ice cram makers
August 11, 2022, 11:53 am

Heatwave in Britain leads to boom in demand for ice cram makers

Ice cream is a sweetened frozen food typically eaten as a snack or dessert - Photo. Pixabay

Ice cream makers have seen their sales double this week as the heatwave sweeping across Britain fuels a surge in demand, the Anews reported, citing the DPA.

With the Meteorological Office issuing an extreme weather warning for Thursday (August 11) onwards with highs above 30 degrees Celsius, supermarkets are gearing up for a mammoth weekend.

However, smaller businesses are already struggling to keep up, with at least one family-owned company working longer hours to keep orders flowing.

A spokeswoman for Mrs Dowsons Ice Cream said: "We've been really busy with orders... a week like this with the heatwave, I'd say they've definitely doubled"

The manufacturer has seen visitors flocking to its farm shop, which it runs from Blackburn, Lancashire, along with a rise in demand from wholesale customers.

UK Met Office: The UK experiences occasional heatwaves but of a lesser frequency and intensity of those seen elsewhere globally - Photo. Pixabay

"The ice cream parlour on the site definitely gets busier on hotter days," the spokeswoman continued.

"In terms of wholesale customers, you get a lot of customers calling last minute, saying 'we're really busy with the weather, can we place last-minute orders?'"

Its traditional flavours have proven popular this week, but - in a sign of Britons branching out into more experimental choices - so has its black cherry amaretto and peardrop.

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Similarly, Waitrose ice cream buyer Joe Sharkey said its No 1 Colombian Coffee brand had proved a customer favourite over the heatwave.

Mrs Dowsons monitors Met Office heat warnings as a gauge of demand, and has fortified its supply chain for when temperatures soar later this week.

"We're definitely prepared when it comes to heatwaves like this with drivers and vans and everything," the spokeswoman said.

Renewed heatwave expected across UK this week

However, members of one family business are having to work "longer hours" to cope with the orders mounting from wholesale customers.

Julia Lewis, of Chester-based L Lewis, said: "It's just an escalation of getting busier, as people are running out of stocks and wanting more supply.

"They've come to the stage where they need replenishing quicker. There's more stock going and there's more orders."

Climate change: UK imposes partial hosepipe ban ahead of expected heat wave

The Met Office has issued an amber heat warning running between Thursday (August 11) and Sunday (August 14), which could see temperatures peak at 36 degrees Celsius across southern England and eastern Wales.

Supermarkets believe this will fuel demand even further, with Sainsbury's forecasting a 120% rise in sales of ice cream cones.

Source: anews

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.