Lawyer Mat Fresco breaks down the costs and profits associated with selling the classic 99 flake ice cream, highlighting the industry’s financial landscape amid rising operational costs.
Lawyer Mat Fresco has provided a breakdown of the profit generated by ice cream vans selling the classic “99” flake ice cream. In a TikTok video, Fresco detailed the costs involved, such as 4p for the cone, 10p for the half-sized Cadbury’s chocolate flake, and 2p for the soft serve mix. Additional expenses include 53p for diesel, 9p for the van, and various minor costs for trading licenses, insurance, and wages. VAT adds 42p under specific conditions, leaving the vendor with a profit of £1.19 per cone.
Fresco estimated that a successful van can sell 600 ice creams on a sunny day, potentially earning £44,000 annually. With around 5,103 ice cream vans in the UK, the industry could be worth approximately £220 million per year. Ice cream vans must adhere to regulations regarding the use of chimes, which can only be played within set times and volumes and must respect certain distances from schools, hospitals, and other vans.
Historically, the “99” name dates back to an ice cream shop at 99 Portobello High Street in Scotland, where the owner would place a half Flake chocolate into the ice cream. Despite the nostalgic price of 99p, today’s 99 Flake can cost up to £5.75, with some stalls pricing them near £6. Rising operational costs have driven this increase, with vendors acknowledging the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on their pricing strategies. In response to high prices, some venues have adjusted their rates, such as a Coventry tourist spot reducing the price from £5.70 to £4.65.
Catering providers in parks like The Royal Parks in Hyde Park have stated that pricing is influenced by inflation and ingredient costs. These providers aim to balance offering quality products with maintaining financial sustainability, benchmarking prices against similar venues.