A Yorkshire-based ice cream manufacturer will begin supplying Aldi with pigs in blankets ice cream from today (Tuesday, December 19), the retailer has announced.
The savoury-sweet ice cream product from Yorvale is priced at £2.49 (500ml) and is pork flavoured with a salted smoked maple syrup.
Ian and Lesley Buxton, who run the dairy farm, landed the contract after winning over the retailer, as seen in last night’s Channel 4 show Aldi’s Christmas Secrets.
Aldi said the pair’s “quirky” pigs in blankets ice cream wowed managing director Julie Ashfield and communications director Richard Thornton.
Aldi UK managing director Ashfield said: “Yorvale and their pigs in blankets ice cream really excited us. It’s such a unique product that we can really see doing well at Aldi.”
On securing a contract with Aldi, Lesley Buxton said: “We knew it had to be unusual so we set about looking at typical Christmas flavours that might work in ice cream.
“We experimented with different flavour profiles: brussels sprouts, bacon and chestnut, port-soaked cranberries and blue cheese, blue cheese and smoky bacon. Even a Christmas spiced ‘Cuthbert’ the carrot cake.
“But we finally landed on pigs in blankets as it was by far the best, and most festive tasting of them all.”
Ian Buxton said: “This is our first ever Aldi contract – an order of 25,000 is absolutely life changing.
“It’s great to think the whole country could be tucking into pigs in blankets ice cream at Christmas time. I hope it brings a smile to everyone’s faces.”
Aldi’s Christmas Secrets saw the retailer search for new festive products, with British suppliers pitching for the chance to land a Christmas contract.
Hopefuls included Liverpool bakery Desserts by Dre with a Christmas pudding cheesecake; Wigston Deli, who pitched pigs in blankets samosas; and a festive themed steamed pudding from Worcestershire-based The Pudding Shop.
