29 September 2009

Hoy's Farmhouse Ice Cream (www.hoysfarmhouseicecream.co.uk) this week welcomed Greenmount students on a visit.  The new first year HND Agriculture students were treated to a tour which included seeing the ice cream being made and enjoying a cone of their favourite flavour.  They also heard an inspiring story of how the business was developed by owners Andrew and Tammy Hoy.  Tammy previously worked for Coca-Cola while Andrew is a former Greenmount student.  The business is based at Hollybank Farm near Parkgate in mid Antrim.  

Hoy’s range of ice cream and sorbet flavours are uniquely natural, made using creamy milk from their own dairy cows, and without using artificial ingredients.   Students learned that Hoy’s were developing seasonal flavours for Halloween (Toffee Apple, Nutty Bat) and for Christmas (Cinnamon, Christmas pudding) and the importance of the Internet as a marketing tool. Hoy’s ice cream is available in local shops and restaurants. They also host group visits and cater for birthday parties and special occasions, even having their own colourful cow-print Ice Cream van.

The new first year Greenmount HND Agriculture student group represents ten different counties in Ireland and includes one student from Scotland.  For further details of CAFRE courses, full and part-time, contact the College on 0800 028 4291.

Hoy’s ice cream hosts Greenmount students: Sheila McKenzie (Benburb, Dungannon), Ashleigh Hunter (Glenarm, Ballymena), Rebecca Thompson (Tuam, Co. Galway), with Tammy Hoy (Hoy’s Ice Cream, near Parkgate, Co. Antrim)

Greenmount students from Co. Antrim on a visit to Hoy’s ice cream: Christopher Buchanan (from Dundrod, Crumlin), with Tammy Hoy (Hoy’s Ice Cream, near Parkgate, Co. Antrim) and Danielle Connon (Broughshane, Ballymena).