In the 19th Century, ice cream making became something of an Italian speciality, brought to the UK in 1860 when pioneering brothers, Giovanni and Dominic Massarella, came to England to start a new life. They made and sold ice cream from their handmade carts, soon expanding into a family business when Giovanni’s 4 sons started their own independent ice cream businesses and Massarellas family brand name was born.
By 1949, ice cream was being produced in their factory in bulk, 5000 gallons a day. By 1954 a fleet of refrigerated vans served 3 depots in Doncaster and surrounding areas, 300 vans covering the country from Darlington to Coventry. A fleet of ice cream vans still operates from the Bentley site, serving the local community and surrounding areas with favourites and the famous ’99.
Fun fact: The ’99 gets its name from the meaning of ‘the very best’ after the 99 hand-picked members of the King of Italy’s Royal Bodyguard.
The current owner, David Dimon, joined the business in 1959 as a part-time driver, along with his wife, Hazel, going on to purchase the retail business in 1985 which still carries the Massarella name.
Allied Massarellas is now located on Church Street, Bentley, Doncaster and is a sales distribution depot for Nestle/Treats, Mars, Cadbury, Stella and Walls products along with soft mix and various ice cream toppings and sundries, with established clients around Yorkshire and the Humberside.