Solley’s Kentish Ice Cream has been shortlisted twice at the Family Business of the Year awards 2015. The company based in Ripple, near Deal, is a finalist in the regional London & South East and national Food & Drink categories.
The awards are organised by Family Business United magazine; the leading UK resource for the family business sector. Designed to celebrate the diversity and success of family businesses across the country, they also recognise the important contribution they make to their local communities and the national economy.
The main awards will be decided by a judging panel but Solley’s has also been entered into the People’s Choice Award, which is decided by an online vote. The company with the most votes by the end of April wins the coveted award – Solley’s fans can register their support here: http://www.familybusinessunited.com/resources/family-business-of-the-year-regions/london-and-south-east/. The overall winners will be announced at a champagne reception at the Mayfair Hotel in London, in June.
Solley’s has been producing real Kentish dairy ice cream for 30 years, and is the largest independent producer in the county. The dairy sources 85 per cent of its base products from Kent and all of its milk and cream from a ChannelIsland herd on a neighbouring farm, keeping food miles to a minimum.
Managing director Stephen Solley was born and bred in Ripple into a farming family; his grandfather, Fred Solley, started dairy farming in the area shortly before the Second World War, and the business was passed down to his son, Derek, and then to Stephen. Now, the day-to-day running of the business is handled by general manager Keith Morrison, who is married to Stephen’s daughter Katie. The couple’s sons, William and Alexander, often help out with the business and even have a range of ice creams and sorbets named after them.
Keith Morrison, Solley’s general manager, said: “Family is at the heart of everything we do here at Solley’s, so we’re all delighted to be nominated for the Family Business Awards. It’s an honour to be recognised by a national organisation, particularly as we are up against businesses from all over the country. The main categories are in the hands of the judges, but we need all the support we can get for the People’s Choice award so we’d be really grateful for if people would vote for us.”
Paul Andrews, founder and managing director of Family Business United, said: “We are delighted to be able to pull together such a diverse and vibrant bunch of family businesses, some that have succeeded for numerous generations and continue to thrive, and others that are relatively young but have great values at the heart of what they do.
“Any one of those shortlisted would make worthy winners and ambassadors for the sector. We are looking forward to finding out more about each of them and I am sure that the decisions to determine the winner will not be easy.”
To cast your vote for Solley’s Kentish ice cream to win the People’s Choice Award, visit: http://www.familybusinessunited.com/resources/family-business-of-the-year-regions/london-and-south-east/
