A savvy shopper has claimed to have uncovered the "cheapest ice cream in the UK" at an unlikely retailer: Swedish furniture giant Ikea. Posting to the Facebook page "Very British Problems," the shopper shared a photo of a soft-serve ice cream cone advertised for just 95p, writing: "It's sunny so I've come for surely the cheapest 99 in Britain. Such a cheap 99 that it's a 95!"
Bargain Discovery Amidst Heatwave
The discovery comes as much of the UK recently endured a record-breaking heatwave, with temperatures reaching as high as 37.1°C in some areas. Many people have been seeking cool treats, but rising prices have made finding affordable ice cream challenging. The shopper noted that the bargain was found at Ikea, a store visited by thousands regularly, rather than a supermarket or ice cream van.
In the comments, the shopper humorously added: "I'll probably not feel the benefit of the savings once I've spent £400 on cupboards."
Is It Really a '99'?
Ikea's soft serve ice cream is described on its website as a "traditional soft ice based on milk and cream" with classic vanilla flavour. However, social media users were quick to point out a supposed flaw: the cone lacked a Cadbury Flake, which is traditionally part of a "99" ice cream in British culture. One person commented: "Not a 99 without a Flake though!" Another explained: "Without a Flake it's just a Mr Whippy. You need that stick of crumbly chocolate goodness to make it a 99."
A third user joked: "It's 95p because there's no Flake. The Flake would take it up to the average UK price of £6.50."
What Defines a 99 Ice Cream?
In British culture, a 99 is a beloved ice cream cone, typically vanilla soft-serve, with a Cadbury Flake bar inserted into it. The Flake was originally produced at Cadbury's factory in Birmingham, England, and by 1930, Cadbury was selling half-length Flake "99s" specifically for ice cream cones. These were marketed under the name 99 Flake and sold loose in boxes rather than individually wrapped.
The original "99 Flake" was an ice cream sandwich, with a Flake bar between two portions of ice cream sandwiched between two wafer biscuits. The origin of the name remains a mystery. Some believe it dates back to 1922, when Stefano Arcari opened an ice cream shop in Scotland at 99 Portobello High Street, where he would snap a Flake in two before inserting it into the ice cream. Others speculate the "99" Flake was a tribute to "i Ragazzi del 99" (the Boys of '99), soldiers born in 1899 who were among the last called up during World War I. There are also those who think the name came from a former price of 99p, though this is unlikely given the treat's early 1900s origins.
