Baboo Gelato, an artisan ice cream maker based near Rampisham, took home a top award last month for its Doggy Doggy Yum Yum frozen dog treat.

The business won Best Pet Treat at this year’s Pet Industry Federation (PIF) Awards, held at a glittering presentation evening in Stoke-on-Trent.

It follows a Silver award at the 2022 PetQuip Awards and Best New Product at the Pedigree Wholesale Awards.

The now multi-award-winning Doggy Doggy Yum Yum is made with 100 per cent peanut butter and bananas and is stocked in dog-friendly diners, hotels and pubs across the UK.

Its latest recipe change also means the recipe is now free of any ultra-processed emulsifiers or stabilisers.

Baboo Gelato was started by husband-and-wife team Sam and Annie Hanbury after they moved to Bridport in 2012.

Inspired by the fruit from their new garden and orchard, Annie went to Bologna to train as a professional gelatiere, before setting up a small artisanal manufacturing kitchen.

The duo opened their first kiosk in West Bay Dorset and haven’t looked back since, with further locations in Lyme Regis, Weymouth and Swanage.

Sam said: “Much of our sales come from our kiosks, which help us to know exactly what customers want.

“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 obvious pet retailers and specialist dog friendly places, but from ordinary cafes, pubs, restaurants and tourist destinations.”

Baboo Gelato also donates 5p from every tub of Doggy Doggy Yum Yum sold to the Dogs for Good charity, which trains canines to help people affected by disability, dementia, autism and mental health challenges.

Sam added: “We’re absolutely delighted to receive this honour from the PIF.

“A big thank you to Su-Bridge who sponsored the award, our distributor Pedigree Wholesale and all our suppliers, employees and customers who have helped to make Doggy Doggy Yum Yum such a success.”

• baboogelato.com