Mid Ulster ice cream brand hits supermarket shelves for the first time
The partnership with JC Stewart's - one of Kelly's Supermarkets' 12 stores - marks a significant milestone for the growing ice cream brand
Ben's Ice Cream, the family-run Mid Ulster favourite known for its shops across Magherafelt, Ballymena, Toome and Portglenone, has taken its first step into retail with the launch of a new 500ml tub range, now available at JC Stewart's Grocers in Magherafelt.
The new range brings four of Ben's most-loved flavours into customers' homes for the first time: Vanilla Delight, Berry Berry Strawberry, Chocolate Cure, and Toffee & Caramel Split.
The partnership with JC Stewart's - one of Kelly's Supermarkets' 12 stores - marks a significant milestone for the growing ice cream brand, which has built a loyal following through its shops and hospitality customers over the years.
The retail range is being positioned as a natural next step in that growth, giving people the chance to enjoy the Ben's experience without leaving the house.
Ben Boyd, Owner of Ben's Ice Cream, said: "We're absolutely delighted to be launching our first retail range with Kelly’s Supermarkets.
“Retail is something we've wanted to explore for some time, but we wanted to make sure we did it properly and created a product we were genuinely proud to put on the shelves.
“JC Stewart's was a really natural fit for us because of the importance they place on supporting local producers and giving locally made products a platform. There's real value in seeing locally produced products sitting alongside the bigger brands, and JC Stewart's has always understood that.
"Our shops have given us the opportunity to build a really strong connection with our customers, and we wanted to bring that same Ben's experience into people's homes. The four flavours we've launched are a great representation of what we do, and we're really excited to see how customers respond to them.”
Lauryn Tallon (Kelly), Group Senior Manager at Kelly's Supermarkets, added: "At Kelly's, we have always been passionate about everything local. With our recent renovations, our store manager, Andrew Scott, expressed his interest in a premium ice cream fixture. From there, we knew we wanted to reach out to Ben on the opportunity to introduce Ben's Ice Cream retail tubs, and it took off from there.
"As family-run businesses, we share similar values around quality, customer service and community. We're delighted to introduce the range to our customers through JC Stewart's and look forward to seeing the partnership develop further in our other stores."
Both businesses hope the launch marks the beginning of a long-term partnership, with plans to expand the range across additional Kelly's Supermarkets stores in the future.
For customers across Mid Ulster, the collaboration is another example of two family-run local businesses working together to showcase the best of what Northern Ireland has to offer - supporting the local economy while creating room for continued growth on both sides.
Ben's Ice Cream's new retail range is available now at JC Stewart's Grocers, Magherafelt.