Owner prepares for business to ramp up for multi-award-winning artisan ice cream venture with spring on the way
A founder is preparing for business to ramp up for her multi-award-winning artisan ice cream venture, with spring well and truly on the way.
Jo Rutherford founded Your Cool in late 2019, after many years as a thought in the back of her mind.
Having enjoyed making ice cream in her former domestic machine for friends and family, she decided to take the leap from her career in marketing management to launch this venture.
The business is a small batch, artisan producer of fresh and high quality ice creams and sorbets – made to order for local delivery or available as a unique addition to events.
Jo now has more than 100 traditional, seasonal and exotic recipes to her name, all created from her home in Spratton, and she goes out of her way to develop new ones at the request of her customers.
Talking about what it is like to run an independent business at the moment, Jo told the Chronicle & Echo: “It’s challenging for everyone and I’m luckier than some. I haven’t got loads of employees or expensive premises. I’m avoiding that side of things.
“I’m optimistic because I’m now looking at focusing on weddings and corporate events, and I’ve committed to that decision and shift.”
Jo is in the midst of wedding fair season and events kickstart from Easter. The founder uses the first three months of the year to ensure everything is as prepared as it can be, as well as reviewing what worked well the previous year to harness the business’ full potential.
“The business is split into three areas,” said Jo. “People can order tubs of artisan ice cream online and the flavours change every month. I have Easter flavours coming soon and online orders are available for local delivery.
“Then there’s wedding and corporate events, with personalised freshly made ice cream in branded tubs served from the retro-style trike. I’m also still popping up at events around the county too, and stock ice cream in Creaton Village Shop.”
Jo said her honeycomb ice cream has been praised as the best that people have ever tried, and she believes it is the taste and quality of the products that customers appreciate most.
When asked what she believes makes Your Cool unique and special, Jo said: “With weddings and corporate events, we go along with ice cream we’ve made ourselves fresh for that occasion. There are hundreds to choose from, and we try and use local ingredients when we can.
“The rum and raisin ice cream is award-winning and the raisins are soaked in Warner’s Gin. We support local and make sure the ice cream is worth the calories.”
Dark chocolate stracciatella, cherry with a hint of amaretto, elderflower sorbet and honeycomb ice cream are among the most popular, and Jo looks forward to introducing her Easter flavours soon – including creme egg, mini egg and hot cross bun.
“I hope to fill the gaps I’ve got left for weddings for the year and I’ll be looking for corporate business,” Jo concluded. “It’s a nice way for businesses to treat their staff or something to have at their events.”