New owner of Ice Cream Charlie Gareth Eddy serves his first ice cream. Photo: Ice Cream Charlie/Supplied
Long time customers of the much-loved Christchurch ice cream trailer Ice Cream Charlie have taken their love of its ice creams to the next level by buying the business.
Gareth and Sarah Eddy became the proud new owners when the business went up for sale in June.
Sarah Eddy told Morning Report the move was a bit "left field".
"Gareth and I are long-time Charlie fans, we both have childhood memories of being taken into town for a special ice cream with our parents and grandparents.
"When we saw it come on the market we were saying 'I really hope it gets snapped up by someone who can give it the time, attention and love it deserves'".
After a few discussions between the pair, Sarah and Gareth realised they could be the ones to take it on, and they decided to email the agent selling it, which landed them in "a bit too deep".
"Before it was too late to turn back we were like 'ohh it's ours'".
The pair have since schooled themselves on running an ice cream business, and have had to take annual leave from their jobs to spend time with the old owners and "learn the ropes".
People enjoy an ice cream from Ice Cream Charlie in Christchurch. Photo: Ice Cream Charlie/Supplied
It's not just the ins and outs of running an ice cream business the couple had to study, there was also learning how to make the ice cream, using a traditional recipe from 1903.
Sarah explained there was "loads of compliance to work through", but the couple are now in the ice cream making phase.
"We made our first batch of ice cream, it's actually not a quick process, it takes 48 hours before it's even at a position to get it in the freezer."
The ice cream has traditionally been made in central Christchurch, but the site has been sold, so Sarah and Gareth have moved production, including all the equipment, near to where they live in Kaiapoi, and they will also sell to the public from there.
As for the best flavours, Sarah said it's the "standard vanilla ice cream with a bit of raspberry, a spot of cream and some chocolate chips" that Ice Cream Charlie is known for.
The couple are also keen on developing new flavours too.
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