The inside scoop

What began as a treat for the family is now a deliciously refreshing business, which recently made second place in the annual Ilembe Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur Competition.

Amanda Maidman is the ice cream wiz behind Scoop.

“One of the chefs I worked with in the UK introduced me to handmade ice cream. I made it a few times at home, but it was only once I read about Jude’s ice cream online that I felt inspired,” said Maidman, who looked after 30 bespoke gastro pubs in the UK before moving to the Dolphin Coast in 2006.

“Jude’s husband, as he refers to himself, had a dream to make the tastiest ice cream from local cows milk in Twyford, UK. I just loved his story and his business.”

Together with Fortunate Shezi, Maidman started making ice cream from home with a one litre domestic turner in 2013.

“The Lifestyle Centre market was our bread and butter for the first few months. Judging by the wonderful reaction from people when they have that first lick, I knew the ice cream was going to work.”

The next logical step was to open a store.

“I love the atmosphere of The Litchi Orchard and the farm feel.”

Shezi is in charge of the kitchen in the shop and makes sure the ice cream cakes, sorbet and sugar cones will keep people coming for another scoop.

“Fortune is fantastic. She comes up with great new flavour ideas and runs the kitchen. I barely set foot in there now,” she said with a chuckle.

Maidman is proudly local and uses ingredients from the nearby farms, adding new flavours depending on the season.

“I want to celebrate KZN. It is so underdone. With Scoop, I want people to feel like this is their ice cream.”

The ice cream fundi loves surprising people with interesting flavours.

“We have our five classic ice creams such as chocolate and salted caramel, but the others change, which I love. We try new flavours all the time, such as our current pineapple and ginger sorbet.”

It is no wonder then, that Scoop has been named one of the top three ice cream producers in the country.

However, there is always room for improvement and with the entrepreneur competition, Maidman saw an opportunity to fine tune her business.

“I have always run a business for others, not for myself and never in SA.”

She said the competition gave her more than she ever imagined.

“The mentors were so generous with their time and helped me focus and plan the growth of the business. The contestants were inspiring and I have a real heart for some of them. I truly respect people who work hard and fellow contestant Angeline da Silva is absolutely 100% a grafter of note. In fact 99% of the contestants deserved to win. They are a great bunch of characters.”

Maidman eats, sleeps and breaths Scoop and has revolutionised the pleasure of eating ice cream into a culinary experience that will make you want more, guaranteed.