Bennetts Ice Cream is a family-run business with over a century of heritage, known for its rich, creamy flavors and commitment to sustainability. Since 1918, Bennetts has grown from a dairy farm into an award-winning ice cream producer, using fresh milk from its own herd just meters from production.
We sat down with Robert, co-owner and successor of Bennetts, to chat about the brand’s deep-rooted history, its dedication to quality ingredients, and how sustainability plays a key role in every scoop. From their time-honored production methods to their partnership with BioPak, Robert shared the journey of Bennetts Ice Cream and the exciting future ahead.
Thanks for chatting with us today, Robert! We’re thrilled to have you here. To start, can you tell us a little bit about the rich history of Bennetts Ice Cream?
Our family moved to Worcester in 1918 when my great-great-grandfather, Robert, bought the farm. Originally a hop and fruit farm, we transitioned to dairy farming in 1925, and haven’t looked back since! My great-grandfather, Stanley, soon built a milk bottling plant, delivering fresh milk to doorsteps until 1991. In 1982, with a surplus of cream, my grandfather John and his nephew Keith began making ice cream. My father, Duncan, joined shortly after, nurturing and growing the ice cream business for the next 35 years, while his brother, Christopher, managed the farm. In 2023, my brother Oliver and I returned to carry on the family legacy, while our cousin Tristan now runs the farm with the help of his young children - the sixth generation in the making!
Bennetts has been delighting customers for years, what makes your ice cream so special?
It’s not every day you get to see the very cows that produce your milk, but that’s exactly what we do! All our milk comes straight from our own dairy herd and is transformed into our wonderfully creamy ice cream within hours of milking. From the very beginning, my grandmother Ruth insisted on using only natural flavorings and ingredients - a commitment we proudly uphold to this day. We continue to craft our ice cream using the same time-honored methods, staying true to these values, which have earned us a reputation for excellence in both quality and taste.
Sustainability is an important conversation in the food industry. What does it mean to you at Bennetts, and why is it such a key focus?
As a farming family, we see ourselves as custodians of the land, responsible for nurturing and protecting it for future generations - just as those before us did. This commitment extends beyond our farm and into everything we do, including the way we produce our ice cream. As a manufacturer, we’ve taken meaningful steps to reduce our environmental impact, from installing solar panels that generate over a third of our energy to using recyclable or compostable packaging. We also prioritize sourcing ingredients as close to home as possible, and with our milk traveling just 500 meters from the milking parlour to the factory, you can’t get much lower food miles than that!
We’re proud that you’ve chosen BioPak packaging! Can you share what led you to choose us and how it aligns with your business?
As we looked for ways to grow our brand while staying true to our environmental values, we knew a sustainable and affordable branded serving tub was the right choice. BioPak worked closely with us to find the perfect solution, even helping develop a new, larger tub size. Their responsibly sourced materials and certified compostable products align seamlessly with our commitment to sustainability, giving us confidence that we’re making the right choices for the future. Working with the BioPak team has been a pleasure, they're easy to reach and always quick to respond to any queries.
What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced at Bennetts, and what advice would you give to others in the industry navigating similar challenges?
My brother and I are the fifth generation to work in the family business. We found ourselves unexpectedly at the helm after our father passed away just over a year ago, several years before he had planned to retire. Since then we’ve navigated a bumpy road with lots of steep learning curves to overcome. Whilst it is difficult to imagine such scenarios, my advice would be to ensure you have a steadfast succession plan in place. We were fortunate enough to be able to learn from our father, but I appreciate not everyone’s circumstances will allow that. Prepare for the unexpected because it makes the challenges all the more manageable for those who come after. This is especially important for family businesses.
Looking ahead, what exciting things should we keep an eye out for in 2025 from Bennetts? Any new flavors, innovations, or sustainability initiatives in the works?
We’re busy working with our marketing team to bring out a new website, and we are introducing a few new flavours to the range. Cheeky Monkey, Lemon Swirl and an indulgent Coconut ice cream. As part of our drive for sustainability, we will be replacing our current plastic lid with a paper based one for our 120ml tubs by the end of the year and we hope to reduce our paper usage by going fully digital!
We can’t not ask - what’s your favourite flavour?
I think I’m going to have to agree with the nation on this one and say you can’t beat the nation’s favourite of vanilla, especially when you taste our Vanilla with Seeds! Recognised with a Great Taste award in 2024, as well as gold at the Farm Shop and Deli awards in 2025, it’s simply delightful. Rich, creamy and indulgent, just as every ice cream should be.
