5 tips for running Frozen Fridays
Image: Boy eating an ice cream.
1. Friday, Saturday, Sundae
The first thing to consider is when to hold your ice cream sale. If you want to run these regularly throughout the summer term, we recommend saving them until the end of the week for a ‘Frozen Friday’ treat! An ice cream stall also makes a welcome addition to events like parents’ evenings, open days and school plays, and can be a great way to introduce new parents to your PTA.
2. The sweet spot
Finding a good location for your ice cream stall will help make it a success. It could be near the school gate for parents to stop by as they take their children home, on the playground at lunchtime for a midday treat, or located in the school hall to accompany other events. Wherever you choose, make sure there’s enough space for the equipment you need.
3. Playing flavourites
Everyone at your school will have different tastes, allergies and dietary requirements, so it’s best to sell a variety of ice creams and frozen treats so everyone can enjoy them. There are plenty of dairy-free, nut-free and vegan products out there, and you can keep things simple and avoid cross-contamination by buying individually wrapped ice creams. Save money by buying in bulk from a wholesaler, such as our partner, Booker. Or buy supermarket own brands and try to negotiate a discount.
For more information on allergies, food hygiene and best practice, visit the health and safety pages on Your PTA Expert.
4. Spreading the word
It’s time to scream about your ice cream! Advertise your ice cream sales through newsletters, social media channels and posters around the school. It’s a good idea to include prices, as well as whether you’ll be taking cash, card or both, and add the location and timings of your stall so parents and pupils know where to find you.
5. Refrigeration, refrigeration, refrigeration
Keeping those sweet treats frozen in the hot weather is key. To start out, ask the school kitchen if you could use some of their freezer space. If your ice cream sales become a more regular fundraiser, you could request the donation of a chest freezer from your community, or have a catering cool box filled with bags of ice to keep your ice creams frozen – but remember, you’ll still need to store your leftovers in a freezer afterwards. However you keep things cool, we recommend removing your frozen treats from their cardboard boxes – they’ll freeze faster and have an even texture.
Looking for more advice on hosting incredible fundraisers? Chat to the Community Team on 0300 123 5460, by emailing [email protected], or via our website’s online live chat.
