The Barnsley-based business, which was created by husband and wife Rory and Carly Fallon, only launched in March 2015 but is already scaling quickly.
Indeed, Cowlick’s range of artisan ice cream is supplied to restaurants, hotels and farm shops, while further business is generated as the company also sells at weddings, corporate and consumer events alike. Conquering flavours including chocolate brownie, chilli chocolate, vanilla rum soaked raisin, baked lemon curd, banoffee pie and plenty more, Cowlick has now produced a line for dogs. “On hot days a large number of our customers were buying ice creams for themselves and then asking if they could have a vanilla cone for their dog. So I decided to make some special doggy flavours which are safe for them, and us, to eat and great for cooling them down,” Carly explaned. The canine-friendly treat has already been developed in a peanut butter flavour, but cheese and bacon, and apple and carrot with biscuits are also in the pipeline. With many dogs lactose-intolerant, Carly is careful to use ingredients that are easily digested and also good for their coats. Barnsley startup programme Smartstart, which is managed by the Barnsley Business and Innovation Centre (BBIC), was behind Cowlick as it looked to get the venture off of the ground.
Read more on businesses likely to satisfy your sweet tooth:
- Shakeaway: Reinventing the milkshake via local products and a focus on customer experience
- Oppo: The overfunded ice cream startup with world record-breaking founders
- Britain has unveiled its most high-tech fleet of ice cream vans
Husband Rory, meanwhile, a former Barnsley FC player helped his wife get started while recovery from a knee injury. He’s now in pre-season training with Scunthorpe United, so has become something of a taste tester now, according to Carly, noting that prosecco with strawberry and Locksley gin and rhubarb are the bestsellers.
“I applied to join the six-week Smartstart business startup programme about marketing and finance and found it really helpful. The presentations were of a very high quality and gave me the confidence to get my own business started,” Carly explained. “After just four months we are already supplying our ice cream to a Yorkshire-based Michelin trained chef, which is a ringing endorsement.” The new entrepreneur originally qualified as a solicitor but decided on a change of career, which led her to take a cookery diploma. During that time she studied how to create Italian ice cream and described the experience as “learning about the science of ice cream making”. Sarah Valentine-Bull, Smartstart business development manager, said: “It’s great to have a brand new business like The Cowlick Creamery based in Barnsley. “Carly and Rory are already making their mark in the Yorkshire region. They are enthusiastic and innovative and keep developing fantastic new ideas for flavours and products. “I am sure they will go on to build their client base and eventually open their own ice cream parlour – with room for dogs naturally.” Fancy getting the Cowlick Creamery over to your event? Reach the Fallons at thecowlickcreamery@gmail.com By Zen TerrelongeShare this story