AN ICE cream treat for dogs created in Dorset has won a coveted national award.
Bridport-based ice cream manufacturer Baboo Gelato has won Best New Product of the Year at the Pedigree Wholesale Supplier Day 2021.
Sam and Annie Hanbury, the husband and wife team behind the Bridport-based company found that lots of their customers were buying ice cream for their dogs. Realising that dogs can be lactose intolerant, they saw a gap in the market for a vegan, organic, dairy-free premium frozen treat for dogs, and created Doggy Doggy Yum Yum.
Mrs Hanbury said: "We’re delighted to have been recognised in our first year by both PetQuip and the PIF and to be awarded Best New Product by Pedigree Wholesale Ltd. It is a real honour."
The product won the top accolade at the event in Coventry and was attended by the leading brands and manufacturers in the pet industry.
READ MORE: Doggy Doggy Yum Yum in the running for two awards
Mr Hanbury said: "We’ve been astonished how quickly Doggy Doggy has spread nationally.
"We always knew that pet owners wanted to give their dogs the best, but it’s nice to see it in action."
Mrs Hanbury trained as a professional gelatiere in Bologna and brought the same care to the formulation of Doggy Doggy Yum Yum as she brings to her ice cream, so it uses organic ingredients.
Made with peanut butter and bananas, the frozen treat uses coconut milk instead of dairy.
Baboo Gelato believes that Doggy Doggy Yum Yum is the first frozen treat to meet all the dietary and environmental criteria as it is organic, dairy free, gluten free, and suitable for vegans.
The dog treat company started during the start of the Covid pandemic in 2020. With the hospitality industry in lockdown for most of last year, Baboo Gelato found limitless demand during the summer not just from obvious pet retailers and specialist dog friendly places, but from ordinary cafés, pubs, restaurants, and tourist destinations.
Earlier this year, Baboo Gelato secured national distribution through Pedigree Wholesale Ltd meaning that pet owners throughout the country can now purchase the treats, which are now stocked in 120 stores.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here