Scots may no longer be able to enjoy the iconic ice cream nougat, as the last manufacturer of the treat in Scotland has reportedly stopped production.
The beloved delicacy, long a favorite in traditional ice cream parlours, has disappeared from the menu at Colpi, a 100-year-old ice cream shop in Milngavie. Manager Donald MacInnes expressed the impact on the business, telling STV: “It’s a big blow. It’s a huge loss to our business; there’s nothing that can replace it. It is by far our most popular product.”
The nougat consists of a wafer layered with marshmallow and coated in chocolate. A single nougat pairs ice cream with a single wafer and a chocolate-coated marshmallow wafer, while the double nougat uses two chocolate-coated marshmallow wafers.
The last remaining supplier of the nougat and the beloved oyster wafer, Waverley Bakery in Glasgow, has stopped making them.
Crolla Ice Cream Co, one of Scotland’s oldest ice cream wholesalers, typically supplies nearly half a million nougat wafers to parlours each year.
Managing director Peter Crolla said he had been working to secure an alternative supplier following the closure of Waverley Bakery.
“It’s going to be a big loss for us, which is why we’ve had to source them from somewhere else,” he explained. “We’ve found a supplier in England, but they’re a bit different.”
The alternative nougats come with some changes: they are slightly flatter, coated in a lighter chocolate, and are more expensive. Despite the differences, Mr. Crolla hopes they will serve as a satisfactory replacement.
Donald MacInnes, who has worked behind the counter at Colpi for 16 years, emphasised the nougat’s importance to the heritage of traditional ice cream parlours.
In the past, there were multiple suppliers for the wafers, but with the closure of Waverley Bakery, there is now no source of supply.
The last nougat was sold just before Christmas, and stocks of oysters are running low.
In a heartfelt statement, Colpi acknowledged the loss: “We know how much many of our customers cherish this wee Scottish delicacy. We’re praying it isn’t goodbye forever, but for now, they’re gone for good.
“We’re completely sold out of nougats. A massive Colpi goodbye to the single nougat – we’ll miss you.”
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