‘First vegan ice-cream van’ set to come to Bristol

With more and more people switching to a plant-based diet, those who cannot or choose not to eat dairy products are often limited when it comes to frozen treats.

You’d be lucky to get a sorbet here and there, or perhaps find a shop selling vegan Magnums - until now.

Chris Reed wanted to bring an ice-cream ‘for everyone’ to Bristol by starting The Happy Cow, which he hopes to launch over the next few days.

The busy 45-year-old, who also co-runs Farrows chip shop in Totterdown and is a father-of-two, has secured a permanent spot for the van at Narrow Quay at the Harbourside.

Chris hoped to launch in the summer but has been waiting for his licence to be granted to Bristol City Council - which he expects to be sorted over the coming days.

With the weather unusually warm for October, he hopes the dairy-free Whippy will still be in high demand.

Chris said: “I’m not vegan myself, more of a vegetarian, but plant-based eating is a thing - it’s definitely happening, especially here in Bristol.

“You also get people who are lactose intolerant or don’t eat dairy for whatever reason, so I wanted to supply an ice-cream that was for everyone.

“Many people tell me they’ve never heard of a plant-based Whippy. The reaction has been massive.

“I set up an Instagram and suddenly my followers skyrocketed from 40 to around 700 in like a day.

“I’m pretty sure we’ll be the first plant-based ice-cream van in Bristol if not the UK.”

Quality was the key factor for Chris when developing the business.

“I spent three months trying to find the right product,” he added. “Along with a range of toppings that I have to say were quite pricey but worth it.

“We’ve got a strawberry sauce made with real stawberries, you can actually see the seeds in this one, and a mango topping which is absolutely delicious. We also serve the Whippy on vegan waffle cones, or tubs if you prefer.

“I’ve had some really positive feedback but it’s a bit disheartening when someone tells me, ‘Oh, it won’t be as good as a real Whippy’ without even trying this version.

“I actually much prefer the plant-based Whippy. It has a lovely texture and I’d encourage anyone to try it. I wouldn’t have gone to so much trouble if it wasn’t amazing.”

Chris also has plans to own the ‘most ethical’ ice-cream van in Bristol by part-fuelling the vehicle with recycled chip fat from Farrows, as well as expanding his plant-based range.

“At the moment we’re starting out on just the ice-cream with whatever toppings you want for £3.50 but I’m in talks with a local plant-based baker to expand what we offer,” he said.

“I’d love to do hot waffles and ice-cream in winter.”

Follow The Happy Cow on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/the_happy_cow_icecream_van