Furious Brits are accusing ice cream sellers of cashing in as the cost of a classic 99 soars to almost £7. Some greedy van and kiosk owners admit they bumped up prices as temperatures soared, leaving many unable to afford the summer treat.
Holidaymaker's Shock at £26 for Four Cones
Rosie Braga, 42, was left fuming after buying four cones from a van near London's Science Museum. She said: "It cost nearly £26, which is far too much. But for me, it's not just about the price, it's also the quality. I'm from Italy and the stuff over here tastes disgusting. It's like I'm eating medicine. It tastes so industrial. At this price, I definitely wouldn't buy it again."
Customers Walk Away or Share Cones
Others simply walked away after clocking the chilling prices. One family visiting Hyde Park from Canada ended up sharing a single cone, and pensioners Pete, 75, and Di, 76, baulked at paying £8 for a Magnum and a Solero. Di said: "It's absolutely extortionate, isn't it? You could get four from a supermarket for the same price."
Vendors Admit Losing Customers
Even vendors admit they've lost customers over the soaring costs. Anna, who works at a Royal Parks kiosk, said: "Sometimes they walk over looking as if they want an ice cream, but then change their minds after seeing the prices." She recalled making a £6.10 gelato for one miffed customer, only for her to hand it straight back saying: "You can keep it."
One van owner who charges £6.50 for a 99, a whippy ice cream with a flake, admitted: "We've all put our prices up this year."
Industry Blames Rising Costs
The Ice Cream Alliance blamed rising costs for ingredients, fuel and refrigeration. Director of operations Catherine McNeil said: "Almost every part of serving a 99 has become more expensive."
Count Binface's 99p Promise
The row has even reached Count Binface, whose Clacton by-election manifesto includes a promise to cap the price of a 99 at 99p. But the origins of the 99 name remain a mystery and were never linked to the cost. One popular theory is that it was named after an ice cream shop at 99 Portobello High Street in Scotland.
