Ely shop face reality of soaring costs as ice cream shortage fears grow
Hadi's Gelato has seen energy bills jump heavily per month
An ice cream shop in Ely hopes the continued support of customers will pull it through amid rising energy bills.
New figures from Uswitch for Business found almost one in three consumer businesses are reducing their use of electrical appliances to save money, sparking fears of an ice cream shortage this summer.
Hadi's Gelato on Lynn Road first opened in 2019 and since then, has battled the hurdles of the Covid pandemic and an ongoing cost of living crisis.
Cameron Dobberstein, shop manager, has seen prices jump including a single scoop of ice cream to help meet increased costs.
“The energy costs have skyrocketed, probably by thousands of pounds per month we pay including rent, electricity, maintenance on machines,” he said.
“We upped a single scoop from £2.50 to £2.99 because we can’t afford the same amount (At same prices) as we used to.
“We were thinking last year that hopefully this year would be better because Covid was on the decrease, but with prices going up, we still have a few hurdles to go over.”
"Once 2020 hit, business was dead"
Businesses that sell ice cream and cold drinks are being advised to find ways to reduce their energy consumption in the hope of adapting to higher bills.
“Finding ways to reduce energy where possible is a good habit to get into,” Jack Arthur, energy expert at Uswitch for Business, said.
“Businesses should check the energy rating of existing appliances and when they were last serviced, to ensure they are running as efficiently as possible.”
Since Hadi’s Gelato first opened, the price of a gelato has risen by 30% in the last 12 months.
Mr Dobberstein said the ice cream freezer inside the shop is usually kept on 24/7, but he believes loyal support will help pull the business through.
“The first year, everything was going well; once 2020 hit, business was dead, we had to shut the shop for months,” he added.
“I think we can carry on for quite a while because we have loyal customers that keep coming back in, so hopefully we keep serving a great product and be open for many years to come.”