Warrenpoint ice cream producer wins national award for gelato

Genoa Cafe in Warrenpoint, Co. Down has won a Gold Medal and Trophy at the National Ice Cream Championships 2022 run by the Ice Cream Alliance (ICA), the sector’s UK trade association. The café’s delicious Mint Choc Chip gelato beat all comers in this, the most prestigious ice cream competition in the country which has been running for nearly 80 years.

Genoa Cafe also gained a silver medal for its vanilla gelato at the same competition.

“As a proud Irish-Italian family, dedicated to producing the highest of quality gelato, we were overwhelmed and honoured to have been awarded as the 2022 Gold Medal winner for our Mint Choc Chip,” said Gemma O’Hare, a director of the business.

“With the recognition of this prestigious award from the ICA, we would hope that this will increase the awareness of our history in the gelato industry and encourage new customers to explore our extensive range of flavours.”

O’Hare’s is a fourth generation Irish-Italian family business that was established in the seaside town of Warrenpoint in 1910. They also trade in neighbouring Newry and have recently opened a dedicated Gelato Parlour, ‘Ciao From Genoa’.

“We have been producing ‘Mint Choc Chip’ as part of our core gelato range introduced into the business from the late 80’s,” added Gemma. “I would like to pay tribute to the entire Genoa family of staff for their continued dedication to customer care. Without these wonderful individuals we would not be the business we are today.”  

The National Ice Cream Competition is the ‘Oscars’ of the ice cream awards. It is held every year by the Ice Cream Alliance (ICA), the UK trade association for the ice cream industry. Hundreds of products are submitted across thirteen categories ranging from Best Vanilla to ‘Alternative’ category products which includes those free from the top 14 allergens, dairy-free, low-fat, high-protein, no-sugar, and others. Submissions are judged blind by ice cream experts – making the results the most prestigious in the country.

“Congratulations to Gemma and all her team at Genoa Cafe,” added Zelica Carr, ICA CEO. “The ice cream sector has had a challenging time over the last two years. This business shows that the sector has overcome these challenges and has bounced back better than ever for 2022 and the future.”

The National Ice Cream Competition has been running for 77 years and bestows a badge of quality and excellence on all those that win. It was judged by 43 experts over two days at the Ice Cream and Artisan Food Show 2022.

Gemma and Aldo O’Hare of the Genoa Café in Warrenpoint