A pioneering ice cream parlour and pizzeria is encouraging businesses to share its appetite for a net-zero future.
In partnership with sustainability experts Greener Edge, Glaslyn has a vision to work with farmers, suppliers and the community to make Snowdonia National Park a carbon-free area.
From heat sources and procurement processes, materials, ingredients and transport, the audit focused on all aspects of Glaslyn's day-to-day operations and there are plans to install solar panels and upgrade the fabric of existing buildings.
Following an initial assessment by Stu Meades, Managing Director of Greener Edge – also based in the Gwynedd village, they came together and identified ways to lower the site's emissions.
Green Economy Wales spoke to Bonnie Rowley, Managing Director at Glaslyn Ice Cream Parlour alongside Stu Meades, who explained who they are as businesses, why Glaslyn is committed to achieving a carbon-free zone, how Glaslyn and Greener Edge came together and why it is so vitally important that Snowdonia becomes a carbon-free zone.
“The roots of our family business date back to the 1940's when our grandparents used to specialise in producing Welsh textile crafts. In 1970, Joan and Bert Rowley bought a gift shop and cafe in the heart of the most beautiful village in Eryri (Snowdonia); Beddgelert. The village is a gateway to Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), the highest mountain in Wales and England.
Our grandparents soon turned their hand to crafting food and drink. They bought a soft-serve ice cream machine and that’s where it all started.
Their youngest son Derek (our dad) was involved in the family business from a young age and developed a passion for ice cream. He began developing his own recipes and famously converted the gift shop into an ice cream parlour when his parents were on holiday!
Fortunately, our dad Derek married a foodie and qualified chef – our mum Elaine! Mum made the cafe a huge success, introducing pizzas to the national park and making everything fresh on site without compromise. Together, they built a reputation for crafting the best ice cream and pizza in Snowdonia.
Since 2018, the third generation has taken on the challenge and privilege of ensuring our craft continues and that our family business adapts to our environment, innovating to remain the best at what we do. We’re also able to embrace technology. Most importantly, we’re taking sustainability seriously,” Said Bonnie.