Cold Weather? On Yer Bike!

10/11/2017

As the cold weather takes hold we have been working with an entrepreneurial Winchester businesswoman, helping her swap summertime ice cream sales for profitable soup.

Elaine Shanahan and husband, Terry, have held market pitches in Winchester high street for the past seven years, selling ice creams from traditional ‘stop-me-and-buy-one’ tricycles. But when the British weather takes a turn, profits can go the same way. This time around Elaine decided that her seasonal business wouldn’t have to close down as soon as summer went away, considering both corn on the cob and pizza as hot and filling solutions, before finally hitting on the idea of soup.

Elaine said: “The market manager had seen how successful the trikes had become during the hotter months and asked if we would consider doing something the autumn and winter. Whatever we did had to work on a bike, and so, after some thought, we said why not soup? It’s perfect for the colder weather.”

Elaine and Terry set about sampling different brands before wholesaler Bidfood advised they try The Real Soup Co.’s range of fresh flavours.

“I have to say their soup was far superior to anything else we tasted,” added Elaine, “so we ran with it, commissioned a soup unit to be built on the bike and the results have been brilliant – people absolutely love the soup, and the different flavours we are able to offer from day to day.”

We have has helped Elaine to fully brand the bike and donated branded soup kettles and point of sale items to the cause, helping the couple to communicate any allergens or highlight vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options to discerning shoppers.

David Colwell, Foodservice Manager, Real Soup Co. continued: “We absolutely love the entrepreneurial spirit shown by Elaine and Terry and were delighted to help them get their soup business off the ground in any way we could. It just goes to show that once soup season kicks off, there are real profits to be had when you work with the right supplier. Now that the cold weather is with us for the duration, we look forward to hearing more from the pair on how they are keeping the discerning residents of Winchester warm and satisfied.”