Ice cream vans in Wales have been selling 99s for as much as £5, people have claimed, as Wales prepares for a scorching heatwave that could see temperatures peak at more than 37°C. In years gone by, the classic ice cream cone with a flake in it used to actually cost 99p. It was not actually named after the price, and has in fact been sold for far less than 99p in previous generations.
However, today, it’s being sold for far more. An image posted by WalesOnline on Facebook showed the pricing structure of one ice cream van in Wales this week. A single 99 cost £3.50, while a double cost £4.50. Even a single scoop cornet was £3.50, while a large tub of ice cream with a flake was £4.50.
However, some have revealed that they have paid even more than that for ice cream in Wales over the past few weeks. Claire Thomas said: “The van selling ice cream at the Swansea air show this year must have retired now after that one day - £5 for an ice cream! The best thing was the slogan at the side of the van wrote ‘because ice cream shouldn’t cost the earth’. Daylight robbery.”
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Shellie Jones was also left out of pocket in Swansea recently. She said: “Extortionate prices these days. My bill for two ice creams and two cans of pop at the air show the other week was £14.” Some defended the pricing, including Amanda Stroud who said: “It’s because of the pitch fees. Depending where it was, it costs £400 - £1,000 to trade there.” But Fi Jones said: “I can handle £2 a litre for diesel and soaring energy prices but this is inexcusable.”
Michael Toye said: “Because of the way of the world, some businesses are jumping on the band wagon and adding ridiculous % on to their prices. Disgusting.” Emma Barker said: “Feel sorry for parents with a few kids, wouldn’t get much change from a £20 note.” Kevin Griffiths said you can still get an ice cream bargain if you’re lucky enough to find one. He said: “I remember when I was a kid growing up in the mid 70s and paid 39p from the ice cream man. We had one last week and they were £1.50....so not too bad considering.”
Alison Karbanneck was less fortunate, however. She said: “I took my daughter out about two weeks ago and she only had a cone with blue and red sauce, no flake or sprinkles, and it was £4.50.” Lisa Butcher had a similar experience, saying her family had to pay by card as they didn’t realise how much their ice cream order would cost. “My parents came over the other weekend, kids wanted ice cream so I went to buy them one as I fancied one as well,” she said. “Dad came over and said ‘my treat’, what do you want? I ordered four 99s which came to £12. My dad was like ‘what? I only have a tenner’. The ice cream man said ‘we take contactless’ and my dad told him well ‘that’s a bloody good job then ain’t it’.”
Many people think that 99s are so called because their original price was 99p, but the treat goes back much further than the decimal currency system which was introduced in 1971. The treat was created thanks to chocolate company Cadbury which developed the Flake bar in 1920 after an employee saw excess chocolate pouring off the line and forming ripples as it set.
But the name has caused some confusion over the years, with a number of theories as to how it came about. Some say it was coined by Stefano Arcari who sold ice cream from his shop at 99 Portobello High Street in Scotland. Others say it was named for the Boys of 99 - honoured Italian heroes of the First World War who had been born in 1899.
The shape of the Flake is said to have reminded Italian ice cream sellers in Britain of the feather the Boys of 99 wore in their caps. Meanwhile, The Dunkerleys in Gorton, Manchester, also claims to have come up with the name at their shop located at 99 Wellington Street. The official reason given by Cadbury states: "In the days of the monarchy in Italy the King had an elite guard consisting of 99 soldiers. Subsequently anything really special or first class was known as ’99’.”
Read next:
- Claims thousands could die in 'national emergency' heatwave
- MP says people worried about heatwave are 'snowflakes'
- Heatwave and Covid pressures hit NHS efforts to squash backlog
- What the rules are around hospital visiting in each part of Wales
- First ever Swansea half ironman event sells out
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