Ice Cream Van Business

[fiction-factory]

I was wondering whether anyone here knows anyone who runs an ice-cream van and whether it can be a money-spinning business. I'm not thinking of buying a van but was just curious because of what I see around here.

A couple of years ago 4 different houses very close together near me all had taller garages built as part of extension work. It turned out these were to accommodate the fleet of ice-cream vans which appeared at these houses shortly afterwards. The vans usually set off late morning and come back when it goes dark. I don't know how many ice-creams they sell or where they go but they must do really well judging by the ever increasing numbers of new black BMWs, Mercedes and large 4x4s that they have acquired over the last couple of years and the ongoing extension works.

Of course they may have other family members who are top surgeons or similar or they may have inherited a lot of money but I wonder whether it is also a really profitable business. Yes I could try to chat to them about it but it's awkward as some of the locals, including me, have had various low level run-ins with them about inconsiderate parking, honking horns etc so I don't feel I could.

Does anyone have any experience of this business?

[Jackdaw33]

I used to wonder why ice cream vans came round our area in dark November evenings. Then I learnt that it was not ice cream they were selling but contraband cigarettes.

[albaqwerty]

some sell not only ice-cream, but milk, bread and a few other bits n pieces and occasionally, I've heard, some er, well dodgy things

[EcclesCake]

Legit ice cream vans can do quite nicely with the right marketing. If they market themselves properly they can get good deals at weddings and corporate functions.

The seedier side is that they are a discrete way of dealing/ delivering drugs.

[Buenchico]

If ice cream vans were fantastic money-makers, I doubt that you'd see newspaper reports like these
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/reality-check/2013/jul/19/ice-cream-vans-hot-weather-heatwave
and
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/news/have-you-seen-an-ice-cream-van-recently-didnt-think-so-2346476.html
or campaigns like this one
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/save-ice-cream-vans-join-2068991

Other than those involved in illegal activities (e.g. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/ice-cream-van-dealer-drugs-1861095 and http://www.durham.gov.uk/article/5581/Ice-cream-van-targeted-in-tobacco-raid ), the only ones that seem to do reasonably well are those operated from fixed pitches at high-footfall locations, such as street markets and car boot sales.

Apart from the increase in regulations (referred to in my links, above), the simple fact that most homes now have freezers means that ice-cream is always available to families, without having to wait for the chimes out in the street.

[Bazile]

I honestly cannot remember the last time i bought an ice cream or other , from a van out on the street .

It must be donkeys , since

[wolf63]

Remember this?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow_Ice_Cream_Wars

[Baldric]

Just a thought, I can't help but wonder what exactly is for sale if it's that profitable.

[Mamyalynne]

One going past now as he does every evening about this time , playing ♫ Colonel Bogey ♫

[ummmm]

My uncle used to be an ice cream man, he said it's good money but it's seasonal. Once he had children he needed a secure yearly income.

I live near a very lovely park and they have two spots for ice cream vans. Rarely in spring/summer will you see them without a queue. They must clean up...

[Svejk]

I'd stop having 'low-level run-ins' with them.
You'll wake up with a horse's head next to you.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Mr Whoppie used to chase ambulances and the like to crash scenes and sell to the rubberneckers and bystanders.

[fiction-factory]

Thanks for all the answers- very interesting. The vans all look very smart, shiny and new and don't look like the sort that of inconspicuous van that would be used by dodgy dealers in seedy neighbourhoods- but who knows. Maybe they have just found good areas to work in- maybe in a park or town centre.
Actually the police did visit one of the houses last week and coincidentally some of the cars at the other houses suddenly decided to drive away, so maybe there is something in what you say.

[ToraToraTora]

well there's a ton of EU regs for a start.

[Peter Pedant]

in Mank, the scappaticci fambly make and sell yummy ice cream
and look what Freddie did he went to N Ireland ....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie_Scappaticci

( for the many ABers who are too idle to access an URL - he became IRA chief torturer AND a british agent - wow buuuuusy man ! )

Good film c Ben Kingsley - 50 dead men walking I think

[Old_Geezer]

Whilst I have no data I find it difficult to believe they can make that much. When I was a kid it was a treat to go get an ice cream from the van. Since the availability of fridges and freezers parents get their tubs of ice cream from the supermarket. One van does the rounds around here, but I've yet to see anyone going for an ice cream or lolly. I've been tempted to do so for nostalgia's sake but haven't. Unless you have negotiated a good number of rights to park & sell at various established fates or sea fronts and suchlike; I really can't see anyone making enough going around the streets to pay for the fuel let alone the maintenance.

[Old_Geezer]

fêtes
:-(

[fiction-factory]

Thanks all. The vans are certainly very well maintained- always clean - so either these families have found a very good spot or, as they all seem to be related, they are very well off through other means (family money/inheritance) and do this as a hobby/service to the community.
I doubt there is any dodgy dealing going on as some have said can happen in this business. A couple of police cars with flashing lights visited one house for quite some time but even if there were suspicions I assume they found nothing untoward as the businesses carried on as normal next day.

[Baldric]

Smoothie operators ^^

[fiction-factory]

It certainly doesn't seem they have wafer-thin margins.