Mauds Ice Creams
Mauds Ice Creams is a Northern Irish ice-cream manufacturer known for its broad flavour range and dairy ice cream distributed across Ireland.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Mauds Ice Creams is an ice-cream manufacturer from Northern Ireland. The business began within a grocery shop operated by Roberta and John Wilson in Carnmoney, County Antrim. Ice cream was initially produced and sold from the store, but demand grew quickly enough for the product to become the central activity of the business. In 1982, the shop was renamed Mauds Ice Creams as a Mother's Day gift to John's mother, Maud, providing the brand with its name and establishing the company as a dedicated ice-cream business. The company developed from a local retailer into a manufacturer and distributor serving customers throughout the island of Ireland. During its early years, Mauds sourced milk from the local Deerpark dairy. After that dairy closed in the late 1990s, the business transferred its milk supply to Ballyrashane Creameries in Coleraine. By 1998, Mauds employed 15 people, operated a principal factory in Glenoe near Larne, and maintained a distribution depot in Antrim. The company subsequently consolidated production in a modern facility at Carrickfergus, with the move completed in March 2002. Expansion in the early 2000s focused on production capacity and exports. In 2002, Mauds reported 18 employees, supplied more than 50 customers in the Republic of Ireland, and announced plans to increase staffing by approximately one-fifth while investing about £1 million in business growth, with support from Invest Northern Ireland. Production reached approximately 40,000 litres per week in 2003 and rose to around 60,000 litres during the two hottest summer months. Seasonal demand was also reflected in retail sales, which reached about 120,000 cones per week in summer 2003 and approximately 200,000 by 2018. Mauds has produced more than 350 flavours over its history. Its best-known flavour is Poor Bear, also locally called Pooh Bear, a combination of vanilla ice cream and honeycomb. The flavour was originally called Pooh Bear's Delight, but Managing Director John Wilson adopted the shorter name after Disney opened a store in Belfast, reportedly to avoid possible copyright complications. Belgian Chocolate, featuring milk-chocolate slivers in vanilla ice cream, is another prominent offering. The brand has used several routes to market. It originally combined manufacturing with its own retail outlets, later operated at least seven company stores, and eventually concentrated more heavily on manufacturing and distribution. Mauds products have been available at more than 300 locations across the island of Ireland, including parlours, cafés, restaurants and hotels. Café Mauds locations in Newcastle, County Down, and on Lisburn Road in Belfast were developed by John and Patricia Pell. The brand also opened a shop in Windsor, England, opposite Windsor Castle, and later supplied ice cream to the Málaga area of Spain. Distribution across the island of Ireland was at one stage handled by North South Retail, associated with early parlour operator John Pell. Mauds has received industry recognition in Ireland. In 2004, it became the first ice-cream producer on the island of Ireland to receive the Ice Cream Alliance's Champion of Champions title, following more than 50 earlier medals and diplomas from the organisation. Between 2013 and 2021, it won five awards at the Blas na hEireann National Irish Food Awards. By 2018, it was described as Northern Ireland's largest ice-cream manufacturer and largest producer of dairy ice cream in the region.
History
Mauds Ice Creams originated in a grocery business run by Roberta and John Wilson in Carnmoney, County Antrim. The couple began making ice cream in the shop, where the product quickly became more important than the grocery trade. On Mother's Day in 1982, the store was renamed Mauds Ice Creams as a gift to John's mother, Maud. This event established both the company's name and its transition toward a specialist ice-cream business. In its early period, Mauds relied on milk from the local Deerpark dairy. When Deerpark closed in the late 1990s, the company changed suppliers and began sourcing from Ballyrashane Creameries in Coleraine. By 1998, the business employed 15 people, operated a main factory in Glenoe near Larne, and had a distribution depot in Antrim. The business was no longer simply a local shop: it had developed manufacturing, logistics and an expanding customer base across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The next stage was a substantial production expansion. In 2002, Mauds employed 18 people and exported to more than 50 customers in the Republic of Ireland. It announced plans to increase its workforce by about 20 percent and invest approximately £1 million in growth, supported by Invest Northern Ireland. Production was moved from the Glenoe and Antrim arrangement into a modern Carrickfergus facility in March 2002. The move gave the company a more consolidated manufacturing base as it pursued wider distribution. Production volumes illustrate the importance of seasonality to the business. Mauds was producing around 40,000 litres per week in 2003, with output rising to approximately 60,000 litres during the two hottest summer months. Weekly cone sales reached about 120,000 in summer 2003 and approximately 200,000 by 2018. By 2018, the company was described as Northern Ireland's largest ice-cream manufacturer and largest producer of dairy ice cream in the region. The company has combined manufacturing with retail and food-service distribution. At different points it operated at least seven of its own outlets, while products were also sold through parlours, cafés, restaurants and hotels. Over time, Mauds placed greater emphasis on manufacturing rather than directly operating a large retail estate. Its products were reported at more than 300 locations across the island of Ireland. Café Mauds outlets in Newcastle, County Down, and on Lisburn Road in Belfast were associated with John and Patricia Pell. The brand also established a shop in Windsor, England, opposite Windsor Castle, and later supplied ice cream to the Málaga area of Spain. Licensing and distribution arrangements were used in some territories, including an exclusive licence for County Sligo and all-island distribution through North South Retail. Product development has been a central part of the brand's identity. Mauds has created more than 350 flavours during its history. Poor Bear, often called Pooh Bear locally, combines vanilla ice cream with honeycomb and became one of the company's most popular flavours. It was initially called Pooh Bear's Delight; the name was changed after Disney opened a Belfast store, reflecting caution about possible intellectual-property concerns. Belgian Chocolate, made with fine milk-chocolate slivers in vanilla ice cream, is another established flavour. Mauds has also built credibility through industry awards. In 2004, it became the first ice-cream producer on the island of Ireland to win the Ice Cream Alliance's Champion of Champions title, after receiving more than 50 earlier medals and diplomas from the organisation. It subsequently won five awards at the Blas na hEireann National Irish Food Awards between 2013 and 2021. The available reference material does not identify a parent company, public listing, current ownership structure, or official corporate website.
- 2021
Blas na hEireann award period concludes
[1]The company has accumulated five awards at the Blas na hEireann National Irish Food Awards during the 2013–2021 period.
- 2018
Northern Ireland's largest ice-cream manufacturer
[1]Mauds is described as Northern Ireland's largest manufacturer of ice cream and dairy ice cream producer.
- 2004
Champion of Champions recognition
[1]Mauds becomes the first ice-cream producer on the island of Ireland to win the Ice Cream Alliance Champion of Champions title.
- 2002
Carrickfergus production facility opens
[1]Production is transferred to a modern facility in Carrickfergus as the company announces export-oriented investment and staffing growth.
- 1998
Manufacturing and distribution expand
[1]Mauds employs 15 people, operates a main factory in Glenoe near Larne, and maintains a distribution depot in Antrim.
- 1992
Café Mauds opens in Newcastle
[1]A flagship Café Mauds outlet opens in Newcastle, County Down, associated with John and Patricia Pell.
- 1982
The Mauds Ice Creams name is established
[1]Roberta and John Wilson rename their Carnmoney grocery store Mauds Ice Creams after making ice cream there and seeing it become the main business.
Products and positioning
A Northern Irish dairy ice-cream manufacturer with a broad flavour portfolio, strong regional distribution, and a heritage spanning manufacturing, parlours and food-service supply.
Dairy ice cream
Poor Bear
A signature Mauds flavour combining vanilla ice cream with honeycomb. It was originally called Pooh Bear's Delight and was later renamed Poor Bear, reportedly because the company wished to avoid possible copyright concerns after a Disney store opened in Belfast. The flavour became one of Mauds' best-known products and at one point represented a substantial share of sales.
Dairy ice cream
Belgian Chocolate
A vanilla-based ice cream containing fine milk-chocolate slivers. It is identified as one of Mauds' two particularly popular flavours and represents the brand's chocolate-oriented offering within its broader range of more than 350 flavours.
Parlour and food-service products · 1992
Café Mauds range
Ice cream and related servings sold through branded Café Mauds locations and other hospitality venues. The format extends Mauds beyond packaged manufacturing into parlour consumption and supports distribution through cafés, restaurants and hotels.
Brand decisions
2002
Invest in export capacity and consolidate productionStrategyBackground
Mauds had expanded beyond its original retail base and was serving customers in the Republic of Ireland. Its production was split between Glenoe and Antrim, while the company sought to grow exports.
Action taken
The company announced approximately £1 million of investment, planned a roughly 20 percent staffing increase, and moved production to a modern Carrickfergus facility.
Aftermath
Production reached about 40,000 litres per week in 2003 and approximately 60,000 litres during the peak summer period. The move supported Mauds' development as a regional manufacturer and distributor.
Planned investment. Approximately £1 million planned (2002)
- Rename Pooh Bear's Delight as Poor BearOther
Background
One of Mauds' popular vanilla-and-honeycomb flavours used a name associated with the Winnie-the-Pooh character.
Action taken
Managing Director John Wilson changed the flavour name to Poor Bear after a Disney store opened in Belfast, reportedly as a precaution against possible copyright issues.
Aftermath
Poor Bear became the established name for one of the brand's signature flavours.
Recent events
- 2021
Mauds wins five Blas na hEireann awards over 2013–2021[1]
Other
The company accumulated five awards at the annual Blas na hEireann National Irish Food Awards during the period from 2013 through 2021.
- 2021
Mauds receives five Blas na hEireann awards between 2013 and 2021[1]
Other
The brand accumulated five awards at the annual Blas na hEireann National Irish Food Awards during the 2013–2021 period.
- 2004
Mauds receives Ice Cream Alliance Champion of Champions title[1]
Other
Mauds became the first ice-cream producer on the island of Ireland to receive the Ice Cream Alliance's Champion of Champions recognition after more than 50 previous awards from the organisation.
- 2004
Mauds wins Ice Cream Alliance Champion of Champions title[1]
Other
Mauds became the first ice-cream producer on the island of Ireland to receive the Ice Cream Alliance Champion of Champions award after earlier competition success.
- 2002
Mauds announces expansion and export investment[1]
Other
The company announced plans to increase staffing and invest approximately £1 million, with support from Invest Northern Ireland, to expand its export business.
- 2002
Production moves to Carrickfergus facility[1]
Other
Mauds transferred production from its Glenoe and Antrim operations to a modern manufacturing facility in Carrickfergus.
Sources1 sources
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