R&R buys Italian ice cream firm

R&R Ice Cream, one of the largest manufacturers in Europe with an annual turnover of around €570 million has bought the Italian ice cream specialist Eskigel based in Terni, Umbria. Eskigel has been in business for almost exactly 60 years and last year managed a turnover of €81m with main products ice lollies and ready-packed sliders and cones.  R&R already has 10 production plants in Europe and produces brand and private label products such as Skinny Cow cream desserts and Landliebe ices in Germany, also marketing a range of ices under the Mars brand name. So far Britain and northern European countries have produced main customer bases but now the Eskigel purchase means new marketing opportunities in the south, according to R&R Europa managing director Ibrahim Najafi. As well as Skinny Cow low-fat (under 3%) desserts one of the biggest R&R hits on the British market so far, according to the company, is the Kelly’s of Cornwall range of ices.