The History of Hocking’s
It was Whitsun 1936 that Dave Hocking sold his buses to Southern National and started making ice cream. From the beginning he was determined to make a high quality West Country ice cream using butter and clotted cream. He bought an electric ice cream maker, many of his competitors were still using a hand machine frozen by ice and salt, and sought the advice from The Ice Cream Alliance on how to make a good quality product.
It quickly gained a good local reputation, and after the war he was joined by his two sons, David and Ernest, and the business began to grow. They would enter the ice cream competitions and won their first Diploma of merit in 1953. Since then another 76 have been added, the highest being a Bronze medal in 2005 and 2011.
Two of David’s sons Geoffrey and Neil joined full-time in the 1970s, followed by great grandson’s Andrew in 1990, and Christian in 2020.
There are plenty of younger family members keen to help in the busy months, as selling ice cream is a perfect summer job!
Selling ice cream in North Devon today has changed very little since those days. It is still about presenting a smart, clean, and wholesome image for a good first impression. We pride our selves on selling a consistent quality product that customers are happy with, for a reasonable price, from cheerful helpful staff. We believe an average of 75% of our customers live within a 15 mile radius and return week after week – even day after day!
Geoff Hocking
” It is still a way of life for a small family business, I only ever intended doing it for a year back in 1971, but somehow the beautiful locations of our sites around North Devon, the friendly nature of people buying ice cream – who are often walking or enjoying the beach and only too ready to chat! were enough to convince me selling ice cream as part of a local community is a healthy and a happy way to spend your days.
As Grandfer reached the end of his working life at the age of 76, he was asked if he would change his life.
“No… I have enjoyed every moment“ he replied,
and I think I shall say the same.”
Hocking’s today…
We believe it is important to put a great emphasis on making a good first impression. Each of our vans are washed inside and out everyday. Staff wear a clean white coat and we attend our sites in poor weather as well as good. The rain is so unpredictable during summer, it often starts dull and ends up a glorious day!
We have 19 vehicles, from our first new CF in 1971 to the latest Whitby Mondial model. All are regularly used, and have even had Grandfer’s old Morris restored by the late Bryan Whitby. Our fleet also includes 2 Land Rover’s for the beach or events in muddy fields.
