BICO
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PROFILE
As one of the oldest ice cream companies in Barbados and possibly the Caribbean, BICO has continually licked the competition in terms of novel offerings and traditional flavours for the whole family. A renowned innovator in business, the company is advancing forth with new ’game-changing’ products, ambitions to export to the UK, and getting serious about its sustainability ambitions.
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perating the coolest business in the Caribbean for 120 years, the Barbados Ice Cream Company (BICO) is synonymous among residents and tourists, young and old, as the go-to provider for premium ice creams, novelty lollies and desserts. Famous for its ice cream jingle and catchy motto ‘Happiness is Here’, BICO has resolutely stood the test of time, despite being buffeted by disasters and crises, whether natural or man-made. Evolution has been a firm friend as BICO has diversified to supply a wide range of world-famous brands, including croissants, baguettes and bread, premium novelties and desserts. It also has one million cubic feet of commercial cold storage at its Bridgetown port base. While Covid-19 continues to play out on the global stage, BICO has been resilient in its approach in maintaining its presence in the market and developing a series of innovations to tempt the masses. 42
Inside Food & Drink
A serious drive for sustainability And while customers naturally delight in their offerings, BICO has also firmly placed sustainability at the heart of everything it does – from its electric vehicle fleet to the solar power that contributes 10% of the factory’s power. BICO is undoubtedly at the forefront of the regional ice cream manufacturing sector in joining the groundswell of businesses backing the Barbadian government’s fight to turn back the tide of climate change. “We need to focus attention on protecting our island and fully endorse aligning our sustainable development goals with our Prime Minister’s ambitious goals,” confirmed BICO CEO Glen Stuart. “Our drive and development in the photovoltaic and electric commercial fleet sectors will see significant acceleration.” He added: “We also have a wide range of famous compostable food containers. This sums up how diversified we are. Sustainable packaging is a critical aspect of our medium-term strategy.”
