Published: August 2, 2024 | Updated: 2nd August 2024
As the British summer (finally) heats up, an artisan ice cream company here in Dorset is helping canines beat the heat – and raising money for charity to boot.
Baboo Gelato is the brand behind Doggy Doggy Yum Yum, made with 100 per cent peanut butter and bananas. It also substitutes dairy for coconut milk to be gentle on dogs’ stomachs.
For every tub sold, they’re donating 5p to Dogs for Good, a charity which trains dogs to support people with disabilities, dementia, autism and mental health challenges.
Baboo Gelato has so far raised £539 for the cause through sales alone.
Tina Williams, regional fundraiser for Dogs for Good, expressed her gratitude in a letter, saying the funds would go towards a puppy partnership to train a new canine recruit.
“Puppy partnership is such a lovely tangible way to see the difference your support is making to us,” she added.
“You follow your puppy on the first stage of their journey into becoming a life-changing assistance or community dog.”
The award-winning Doggy Doggy Yum Yum is stocked in dog-friendly cafés, restaurants, hotels, tourist attractions, pubs, and leading pet shops across the UK.
It’s now produced in-house at Baboo Gelato’s new facility in Dorset.
Sam and Annie Hanbury, the husband-and-wife team behind Baboo Gelato, launched their business after moving to Dorset in 2012.
Annie had trained as a professional gelatiere in Bologna and began making artisanal gelato using fruit from their garden.
An overwhelmingly positive response from the local community led the couple to expand, opening kiosks in West Bay, Lyme Regis, Weymouth and Swanage.
“Much of our sales come from our kiosks which help us to know exactly what customers want,” said Sam.
“This is how Doggy Doggy Yum Yum came about.
“We found that people were buying ice cream for their dogs, and we were concerned that dogs are lactose intolerant.
“We experimented with different ingredients, before creating an entirely lactose-free, emulsifier-free, stabiliser-free product.
“We’re finding limitless demand during the summer – not just from pet retailers and specialist dog friendly places, but from ordinary cafés, pubs, restaurants, and tourist destinations.
“It just seems that most savvy people involved in food and drink want some of the poochie pound, and we can help with a classy product.”
Two years ago, Doggy Doggy Yum Yum secured a distribution deal with Pedigree Wholesale, one of the UK’s largest pet wholesalers.
The partnership has opened up national distribution for the brand, putting them on shelves in prestigious stores like Pet Pavilion in London and Just For Pets.
