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Popular Tameside ice cream company celebrate a century of trade

Monday, 24 August 2020 11:26

By Lee Wild @LeeWild14

A familiar name in the Tameside ice cream trade celebrated their 100th anniversary by giving away over 500 cones to care home residents and staff.

Levaggi’s Ice Cream marked a century of providing the borough with sweet treats this year, wanting to share it with those stuck inside during the lockdown period.

Mark Atherton, a longtime partner in the company, explained: “I always try and give to charity so I had this idea.

“I thought a lot of people in care homes would’ve been our customers and would remember us.

“There was a lot of reminiscing about it on our Facebook page and I thought it would be quite nice to go and see them again.

“It really cheered the residents up. We wanted to recognise how hard the staff have worked over the pandemic.

It was originally founded in 1920 by Victor Levaggi, an Italian immigrant who moved to Hyde before the First World War to work for Meschia’s.

It was while working there he met his future wife Lucy, however in 1915 he returned to Italy to fight in the First World War.

After the war, he returned and married his sweetheart before moving to Denton in 1920 where he set up the ice cream business on the site where Morrisons petrol station now stands. They had a small ice cream factory and a shop selling food, drink and, of course, ice cream.

Following the Second World War, they moved to Wilton Street and expanded the business. It included an on-site fairy where ice cream and lollipops were manufactured. It was a true family business, with every member involved in the manufacturing or sales of ice cream.

Since then, it has been controlled by the Levaggi family, who continued to remain in Denton until Crown Point North Shopping Centre was built, when they then moved to Ashton.

Mark started working in the business full time 35 years ago, but before that worked part time with a van driver between the ages of 12 and 15.

With more knowledge than most about the inner workings of the ice cream trade, he’s been heading up the companies sales ever since. He explained: “I’ve been back on the vans during lockdown because I’m bored to be honest.

“Even just yesterday a woman about 30 odd remembered me from when she was a child, god doesn’t time go past so quickly

“40 years ago we had 30 vans.

“The business has totally changed now. Our ice cream is still Levaggi’s recipe.

“20 years ago it was all scoop ice cream but now it's Mr Whippy. It’s still the same recipe but now in a whippie mix.

“We’ve actually started putting scoop ice cream back on though.”

As with every industry, times have changed in the ice cream trade.

“The vans have changed” said Mark. “Everything is so cheap in supermarkets, you can’t compete on lollies or sweets anymore.

“With the cones we’ve got less sales but more profit.”

After bringing smiles to so many faces at Tameside’s care homes, Mark is already planning his next endeavour.

He wants to thanks workers at Tameside Hospital for their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic by giving away 1,000 cornets.

However, he needs another local company to sponsor half of the cost.

Anyone interested in helping Mark and Levaggis should get in touch on 07961 920986.

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