The Scoop on Scúp

When Wexford company, Scúp Gelato set up their business in 2014, they focused on developing their wholesale market, suppling top restaurants and hotels around Ireland and abroad. And quite successfully too. However, with the onset of the pandemic and the subsequent shut-down of the hospitality sector, this family-owned business was quickly forced to find new income streams and have spent the last year developing their retail trade. Here’s their story.

Scúp Gelato, located in Wexford Enterprise Centre, is a family owned and operated business run by the Devereux family. Even the name ‘Devereux’ is distinctly Wexford. However, their award-winning Gelato can be enjoyed all over Ireland and as far away as Singapore, Dubai and South Korea.

Willie Devereux co-director of Natural Ice Cream Wholesale Limited, operating under the trading name of Scúp Gelato, shares the role with his mother Siobhan. The company was set up seven years ago in 2014 with the vision and ambition of making a range of world class premium quality Gelato and Sorbet products, using the highest quality Irish dairy products, Irish fresh produce, and other natural ingredients at our food grade approved unit at Wexford Enterprise Centre. In that short space of time, Scúp Gelato has won several prestigious food awards. No wonder it is served in Ireland’s top restaurants and hotels.

“Our recipes were created and developed with a Gelato master operating out of Milan, Italy. Our product range was developed for the non-retail food service sector on the island of Ireland with the concept of being natural and only using the highest quality ingredients available, many sourced locally from here in Wexford.

To date, our products have already won prestigious industry awards, including:
• 2 star in Great Taste Awards 2016
• Silver in Blas na hÉireann 2016
• Silver & Gold in Blas na hÉireann 2020
• Blas na hÉireann- Best in Wexford award 2019 & 2020
• Awarded designation under the Origin Green initiative of Bord Bia.

In 2017 we ventured into the export markets of Dubai and Singapore with the help of Board Bia. Encouraged by this positive experience, we decided to further expand our export sales in 2018 we decided to expand export sales via the quality retail consumer sector, again with the help of Bord Bia. This resulted in export sales to South Korea in 2019.

With year-on-year growth and an ever-expanding customer base nationally and internationally, the future of the company looked bright and secure having reached our intended sales and revenue targets while still maintaining the premium quality and integrity of our product.

We began 2020 with very definitive goals for the year. Sales revenues were targeted to steadily increase yet again coupled with employment numbers. We were committed to introducing new production line equipment to increase capacity and efficiencies capability. We planned to introduce new products to our food service range and to the new export consumer retail range. Then came the Covid-19 pandemic crisis which impacted heavily on our business operations and sales revenues.

Since March 2020, we have seen our food service sector customers (hotels and restaurants) and our consumer retail service customers, at home and abroad, face unprecedented challenges. We have had to respond to market conditions that are chaotic, changing constantly, and to a large extent governed first and foremost by the absolute need to protect public health in all the geographical markets we serve. We will pivot to deliver new income streams, particularly in the immediate future through consumer retail sales in the home market as well as available food service channels. The most prominent of these being a shop located on Wexford’s quay front alongside two other local business. This is an exciting new venture and which will also garner great brand awareness to the general public.” – Willie Devereux, Managing Director Scúp Gelato

Yet another tremendous example of the ‘entrepreneurial mind-set’ that is pulsates within Wexford Enterprise Centre. Challenges, anticipated and unforeseen, are the nature of being a business owner. However, it is the ability to adapt to these challenges and ride-out the storm that is the measure of a business. A smooth sea never made for skilful sailors. We wish everyone at Scúp Gelato continued success!

For more information on where to find their award-winning gelato, visit their website www.scupgelato.com or follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.