Dairy Dialog podcast 165: Antonelli Bros., Ice Cream Alliance, Machinery World, SPX FLOW

We have interviews with Zelica Carr, CEO of the Ice Cream Alliance about the event, as well as two of the attendees, Mark Antonelli, director of sales and technical support at Antonelli Bros., and Phil Darvell, managing director of Machinery World.

We also have a feature on cyber security in an interview with Jonathan Reed, global head of automation, electrical and digital engineering at SPX FLOW.

We also have our weekly look at the global dairy markets with Charlie Hyland at StoneX.

Ice Cream and Artisan Food Show

The Ice Cream & Artisan Food Show takes place at the Yorkshire Event Centre, Harrogate, UK from February 8 to 10.  In addition to everything that the makers and sellers of ice cream need to run their businesses, the event also includes exhibitors selling coffee and other beverages, cakes, confectionery and savory snacks.

The Ice Cream & Artisan Food Show is organised by the Ice Cream Alliance (ICA), the trade body for the ice cream sector. 

“The last live Show in 2020 was the first to be extended to include other products sold by parlors, mobilers, cafes and others,” said ICA CEO Zelica Carr. 

“That was in response to a survey of our members that revealed the other products they wanted to see at the Show - 69% sell coffee, 63% tea and other hot drinks, 61% sell cakes, 61% confectionery and 41% savory snacks.”​

In common with other hospitality businesses, the ice cream sector has had a tough time during the pandemic.  But it has bounced back in 2021 with the support of the ICA’s Great British Ice Cream Staycation campaign and record numbers holidaying in this country.

“The 2022 Show will be bigger and better than ever,”​ Carr said. 

“It will provide a launch pad for the further growth of our sector.  And where better to meet than in the fabulous town of Harrogate with its wonderful hotels, bars restaurants and beautiful surrounding countryside.  I look forward to seeing you all there.”​

Registration for the event is free until February 21 at www.ice-cream.org​

In the podcast this week, we include interviews with two of the many exhibitors at the event.

Antonelli Bros.​ is the only UK manufacturer of sugar cones, wafer cones and waffle cones, and also provides ice cream ingredients and flavors from leading Italian suppliers. The company also provides accessories for ice cream, including containers and utensils.

Machinery World​ has been selling used and new dairy processing equipment globally since 1999. The Leicestershire-headquartered company also buys used equipment. As well as ice cream, the company sells other dairy equipment such as for cheese and butter production.

Cybersecurity​

On the podcast this week we talked about cybersecurity with SPX FLOW, Inc​., a global provider of process solutions for the nutrition, health and industrial markets. Based in Charlotte, NC, the company's product offering is concentrated in process technologies that perform mixing, blending, fluid handling, separation, thermal heat transfer and other activities that are integral to processes performed across a wide variety of nutrition, health and precision solutions markets, including the dairy industry.

SPX FLOW had approximately $1.4bn in 2020 annual revenues and has operations in more than 30 countries and sales in more than 140 countries.

In December, the company entered into an agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of Lone Star Funds in an all-cash transaction valued at $3.8bn, including the assumption of debt.