Millers get a 'flavour' of the big time...
A number of successful local partnerships came to fruition at Parkgate thanks to Rotherham’s very own ice cream makers, the town’s ambitious football team, and the community spirit of Parkgate Shopping.
Pastures Moo, formed in November 2013 at Century Business Centre in Manvers with support from Rotherham Youth Enterprise RMBC, have used its free summer pitch at Parkgate Shopping to good effect.
Founders Ali and Will English, encouraged by managers at Parkgate, have been adding new flavours to satisfy the demand from Parkgate shoppers and their regular customers. The lads, both keen football supporters and inspired by Parkgate’s status as a Rotherham United sponsor, have also been working on a special flavour to celebrate the club’s elevation to the Championship. And they organised a competition to find a name for their new treat.
From the flood of entries one submission stood out in the mind of judges from Parkgate and RUFC, and 9-year old Alex Wood from Wickersley came along for the official launch with his award-winning entry- PROMOOTION.
Present to sample the first batch of the new flavour were Millers’ Chairman, Tony Stewart and Billy Smith, Operations Manager at Parkgate. Not only were they impressed by the ingenious name, but thoroughly approved of the ice cream.
Simon English, Will and Ali’s father who has helped them to set up the business, said: “Not only have we enjoyed superb sales during the fine summer weather at Parkgate, but we have learned so much. I cannot thank Billy and his team highly enough for all their help and support, and the challenge of developing a new flavour for such a special achievement and giving it a name was a fabulous and very pleasant experience.”
Alex, a fanatical Millers supporter since he was 4, now has a VIP Home Game package at the New York Stadium courtesy of home shirt sponsor, Parkgate Shopping, to look forward to. And he will also have a fabulous story to relate to his mates when he returns to Wickersley Northfield School for the Autumn Term.
And it will soon be pastures new for Pastures Moo when the fledgling company will shortly begin the next phase of its growth in larger premises.