R&R - History

1932

An enterprising young Italian, Regina Roncadin, opens her first ice cream parlour in Osnabrück, Germany.

1970

Regina's nephew Edoardo sets up our first chain of ice cream parlours in Germany.

1982

Roncadin's first industrial production of ice cream marks a move into new territory.

1985

Over in Yorkshire, England, farmer Jonathan Ropner acquires Cardosi, a local ice cream manufacturer, and Richmond Ice Cream is born.

1995

Windsor Creameries becomes the first of Richmond's many strategic acquisitions, aimed at consolidating the UK ice cream supplier base and positioning us as the UK's leading investor in ice cream manufacturing.

Riding high on the waves of success, at Roncadin we transfer the art of traditional Italian ice cream and cake-making for catering businesses to our subsidiary, L'italiano Ice Cream GmbH.

1997

And the boom continues as strategic acquisitions enable our take-over of Girki, and the subsequent set-up of Roncadin SA in Vayres, France.

1998

In the UK, our merger with Treats Group plc provides another benchmark in our success story, enabling us to enter the ice lolly market. Retaining the plc listing on the Stock Exchange, we are now known as Richmond Foods plc.

1999

With the company producing retail brands on sale right across the continent, Roncadin S.p.A. is quoted on the Milan Stock Exchange.

2000

Richmond acquires Allied Frozen Foods, a major soft-scoop competitor. With four sites right across the UK producing specialty, bulk and individual ice creams, we are now the UK's biggest producers in terms of both volume and range of products.

Dr Oetker Ice Creams becomes our latest Roncadin acquisition, signalling the beginning of our brand activities in Germany.

2001

With the acquisition of Nestlé UK Ice Creams, instantly-recognisable brands such as FAB, Smarties and Rowntree's Fruit Pastil-Lolly are added to our Richmond portfolio.

2002

At Richmond we enter another sector in the impulse market with the acquisition of the Ice Creamery brand.

2003

Sheffield-based ice cream manufacturer, Oldfields, become Richmond's latest acquisition.

2004

This proves a particularly busy year for Roncadin with our acquisition of Zielona Budka in Poland, our exclusive retail co-operation deal with Glacio in Belgium, and our purchase of licence and production rights for Valensina fruit ices and Fit For Fun wellness ice creams.

Richmond purchases De Roma, whose modern Wigan factory adds to our capacity to produce handheld ice creams, lollies and arctic rolls.

2005

Roncadin is acquired by US-based investment fund, Oaktree Capital Management plc.

Skinny Cow, the UK's first indulgent low-fat ice cream brand, becomes part of the Richmond family. Tapping into major consumer food trends, this brand delivered significant incremental sales for both us and the retailers.

Another year of success with the German Agricultural Society (DLG) awarding an incredible 19 gold medals to Roncadin's brand products, while 26 others get a silver medal and two are awarded bronze.

2006

At Roncadin we took over the ice-cream division of NORDMILCH eG, including the Botterbloom brand and licenses for Masterfoods and Ahoj-Brause. In addition, we acquired Schröer Eis GmbH whose North-Rhine production plant completes our capacity to supply a full range category in ice-cream.

Oaktree Capital Management purchase Richmond Foods to merge with Roncadin. The result - a merging of Richmond's management and capability with Roncadin's potential, forming a business with the potential to be not only the largest private label in Europe, but also the most profitable.

2007

Welcome onto the stage R&R Ice Cream, Europe's largest ice cream manufacturer. With seven production plants right across Europe creating a vast range of quality products, it's not surprising both consumers and retail partners find us an irresistibly tasty prospect.

2008

Acquired 70% of Kelly's of Cornwall with Philipp Kellys still regaining a 30% share.

2010

Strengthened our presence in the European ice cream sector with the acquisition of Rolland - France's third largest ice cream manufacturer. This purchase will mean R&R will be the second largest ice cream group in supermarket sales in the each of the UK, Germany and France selling more than 500 million litres of ice cream a year.

Bought the remaining 30% share of Kelly's of Cornwall to become part of R&R Ice Cream UK.