Our Story

Ronaldo Ices

Made with Fresh, Local Norfolk Milk & Cream
Handcrafted in Norwich Since 1983
Over 60 Unique Flavours And Counting!
Made with Fresh, Local Norfolk Milk & Cream
Handcrafted in Norwich Since 1983
Over 60 Unique Flavours And Counting!
Made with Fresh, Local Norfolk Milk & Cream
Handcrafted in Norwich Since 1983
Over 60 Unique Flavours And Counting!

Meet the Team Behind Norfolk’s Favourite Ice Cream

Where It All Began

Ronaldo Ices started in 1983 with an old Victorian-style ice cream barrow, shop-bought ice cream, and a love for great street food.

As demand grew, so did our ambition. We set up our ice cream kitchen on Lothian Street, where we began crafting our own ice cream using real Norfolk milk, fresh fruit, and double cream.

Now, with over 200 unique recipes and a presence in top restaurants, cafés, and attractions across Norfolk, our passion for creating truly handcrafted ice cream remains as strong as ever.

1983

The first day out with the ice cream barrow on London Street, Norwich, was 13th May 1983, selling supermarket-bought ice cream. The barrow was unlicensed at this point. Unfortunately on day 5 of trading, a special service for the police was being held at Norwich Cathedral. When the ceremony had finished, a large proportion of Norfolk’s police service – including the Chief Constable of Norfolk Police – paraded down London street where the barrow was pitched. Simon somehow managed to negotiate being ‘moved on’ and compromised with moving further up London Street to a less conspicuous spot outside the Natwest Bank. Later that year, Ronaldo Ices was granted a street trading license for this very spot – a pitch at which they stayed for over 20 years.

Frustrated at the lack of quality ice cream available, Simon embarked on a week-long ice cream making course at Reading University. Recipes were developed and outsourced to a local company for manufacture.

1987

The age of the ice cream factory! Simon takes out a lease at Unit 1, 44 Lothian Street, where the factory remains to this day. Ice cream production begins at the factory and links are made with local producers for fruit and dairy for the ice cream and sorbets.

A second ice cream barrow is built and two ice cream trikes are purchased as the business grows.

Rob Ellis has joined the business and continues to manage the events arm until his retirement in 2016.

1990

The appetite for real Norfolk ice cream is growing! Lots of events and more wholesale customers are secured. The factory now has full time staff in the food room and office as well as seasonal events staff.

Ronaldo Ices starts to provide ice cream to a little ice cream shop in Sheringham called Ellie’s – the shop is still going strong 25 years later and is a much loved landmark on Sheringham high street.

1998

Tom starts work in the ice cream factory. He remains at the company and is our Food Production Manager over 27 years later.

2002

Ronaldo Ices becomes Ronalo Ices Ltd.

2005

EFSIS Accreditation (This is the equivalent of SALSA Accreditation today and took a lot of hard work!

Chris is now part of the Ronaldo team and begins to learn the ropes.

2006

Chris becomes co-owner.

2010

Accreditation from the Society of Food Hygiene and Technology – as with AFSIS – A lot of work! 5* Food Hygiene rating achieved. We continued to achieve this 5* rating until we discontinued the events side of the business in 2022.

2013

The wholesale side of the business is growing. Richie joins the kitchen team to help Tom keep up with demand.

2014

SALSA Accreditation achieved – we still maintain this today.

2014

Philipa, our office manager, joins the team. Philipa continues to keep us all in line to this day!

2018

Ronaldo Ices now has three units at the Lothian Street site, and wholesale clients including Norwich City Football Club!

We rebrand our logo and packaging.

2019

We start to use biodegradable packaging for our retail and impulse tubs – one of the first in the UK to do so.

2020 Onwards

We say a fond farewell to the events side of the business, to focus solely on wholesale manufacturer. The ice cream barrows are still used for special occasions, including the Great Norfolk Ice Cream Challenge which raised over £3k for local charities in 2024. Major Norfolk attractions such as Bewilderwood, Pensthorpe and Thursford join us as customers, as we continue to make our ice cream better, more sustainable and even more delicious.