Whippy Ice Cream

Hi everyone.  I for one will be coming out to live in Spain early next year,  I also seen the MacDonald programme on Friday and like many others in the UK we don't give a hoot, it's gotta be better living in Spain than rip off Britain.

Anyway a couple of weeks ago on my first introduction web I asked for help on either purchasing in the UK or possibly in Spain a Ice Cream Van.  I had some fantastic responses even the web address of Senor Whippy who apparently has the monopoly of Ice Cream Vans in southern Spain.  Unfortunately, I have sent several emails but they have never responded. 

So it's back to you people.  If I was to drive a van over to Spain, what are the rules and regulations for selling Whippy Ice Cream?  What permits do I require, can I purchase the Whippy ingredients locally (Alicante).  The investment required is many thousands pounds, so doing the right homework is a must.

I have already contacted the British Consolate in Alicante, but alas they have never returned my emails.  I'm sure there is somebody who is a member of EOS has all the information I require.

Mike

Hi Mike,

I was reading your posts regarding the ice cream van business and wondered how you got on in the end?  I'm looking into something similar but in Southern Spain instead.  

Hopefully, you are in Spain now and living the dream!

Natasha

Hi all

For other thread see Mr Wippy Ice Cream (Click blue link)

Hi Natasha

Good for you to have actually decided on a business idea rather than arriving here first and then finding there is no way to earn any money.

I note that Mike's idea was to drive a van over from UK.  If you do go ahead this is probably not the best or most economical way to do it as you would be obliged to re-register it here which can be very expensive (there are quite a lot of posts about this in the Moving to/living in Spain sections of this site.)  As it would be a business vehicle you have to be particularly careful to abide by all the rules as they confiscate business vehicles which are not properly registered and/or impose large fines. I can't imagine that buying a left hand drive vehicle  here should not be any more expensive and would be worry-free.

Hi All,

I am shocked to still read of people thinking they can bring over a UK ice cream van (or any commercial vehicle) and re register it in Spain. The fact is no matter what any person says you cant. Most people on this blog are giving what they believe to be genuine advice but have obviously never tried to register any foriegn commercial vehicle.

Also as I have said previously that despite the fact that some people are selling ice cream on the street it is illegal to do so.

The police are now catching up with people who decided to ignore Spainsh law and use illegal vehicles or trade illegally. Several people have now been forced to remove their vehicles from the country or have them crushed.

The only way you can trade legally in Spain is on legal Spanish Markets. You need a licence for each market and the amount of paper work required can be daunting.

As for people recommending Senior Whippy and them having the franchise for ice cream traders on the Costa Blanca this is absolute rubbish. People should read the posts relating to this company.

I would suggest that any person thinking of starting an ice cream business checks all the threads on this site relating to this topic.

hi all new to the site & like many before me i am planning to move to Spain Playa Flamenca to be presise like Spain Ireland (where im from) loves paperwork & permits not to mention application fees levies & admin fees!! we Irish Italians & Spanish love paperwork & hassel!!! we are looking to either open an ice cream parlor or ice cream van iv rad your posts & think your right about paperwork but im looking for a simple business with low overheads & im prepared to put the leg work in before hand. other than the infamous senor whippy is there anywhere else i can get a van???

cheers

Rachel

After walking around "St Georges" festival at Play Flamenca yesterday, I did notice there were about 4 ice cream vans. I would maybe suggest you look into this area for your proposed business as you may have a lot of competition. Not to mention the climate around this area which is not good!

Regards.

John

Hi John - I was at the market yesterday and sampled one of the Whippy cones - cost 2€ but was great!  Not sure what you meant about the climate though as it was about 25 degrees when I was there.

Rachel - welcome to the forum!  Playa Flamenca is a lovely area but, as you say you will need to love paperwork to start a business here.  It is really hard to find a good idea that you can make money with - with or without a lot of start up costs.  I am in a big development and I think in high summer there is an ice cream van comes around but am not sure.  We also have a Family Frost van which comes once a week with a full range of frozen food and although they are quite expensive I think they will do well with ice cream and ice lollies in the summer.

Good luck and I do hope you find something that will generate some income for you.

In response to HJDAGGER,

One of the chaps who lives near to me has a landscaping business and has a right hand drive transit style van.

He was told by the local police that it was illegal and he could not register it in the Alicante province and cited "lack of driver visability", however if he crossed the border into Murcia it was no problem. He consequently registered and ITV'd the vehicle in Murcia and now drives around with a fully legal RHD van.

This was 12 months ago and I know that rules and regulations can change over night , but it is an avenue worth exploring if you find yourself in this situation.

claire t

I meant the economic climate!!!!!!!!!

PS: i hope your not blonde and from Essex like my wife!!!!! (oopppss)

John

Hi John - the heat must be getting to me!

I'm grey and from Glasgow but I don't think that's any excuse!

Grey haired women from Glasgow are all the rage at the moment, in case you haven't heard?

Roberto!  You say the nicest things!!

Hi all THANKS SO MUCH TO Jon, Harry, & Claire for all your helpful posts much appreciated sorry i havent been in touch sooner but Iv had my area manager over from the UK for the last week!!! Boy did she ware me out I manage a Cath Kidston store but you would swear we were saving lives Im soooo looking forward to my new life in the sun & Hopefully my new less stress ice cream business!!!! Finers crossed we sell the house soon & get going asap!!

My partner is an Electrical engineer & also a qualified Electrician does anyone know if he would get much work around the area he is also really good at fixing computers & is qualified in CAD would he have a problem getting work???

again cheers all x

Rachel,

If your husband needs work when you come out, please try to learn the language asap or you will be limited to working / competing with expats for whatever work is about, and that is not much at the moment!

By the way I saw an ice cream van on El Raso in Guardamar yesterday.

Steve

Hello Rachel,

Sorry to burst your bubble but you could be a Brain Surgeon out here but there is no work.  We have been here 5 years with my family living here too but work has dried up and people are returning to the UK daily.  My brother is an Electrical Engineer and has been fortunate to find work for the last few years (on and off) but since the end of last year there has been hardly any work.  Also, you need to be registered to be an Electrian out here with a European regulations qualification.

When you work legally out here (self employed) you have to pay your taxes every month whether you have work or not.  This is roughly 250 euros a month which is ok if you are working but it´s an extra burden if you have no work.

Whatever you decide good luck.

Thank a million for your honest posts. But Ireland has been much worse affected in this whole  recession than anywhere else & our government has slapped huge taxes on us €250 wouldnt get a couple a night out in Ireland let alone anything else its about 1 weeks tax for me (thats not including social insurance) & Im not in a high paid job just average. We both plan to do the ice cream van but he was just thinking about extra work to stave off possible boredom? we originally had our own Property business here we used to contract ourselves to Developers to pre-snag their units for them & we offered a snagging & interior design service. I also offered Project management services for large residential developments as I have a construction/estate agent background this went well with my hubbys Electrical engineering background & we did extreemly well for a long time & made a great name for ourselves but there is nothing now, even my job in the shop is looking doubtful!!! so hopefully ice cream will still sell in Spain??

thanks for the reality check its good to hear all angles & all information

cheers x

well rachelmoving if you really want to go to spain  by all means go,but in my opinion and its only my opinion, to do business in spain is the last thing i would advise ,the spanish are the laziest,unreliable.over regulated,decietful, corrupt,greediest people i have ever met,one rule for you might not apply to someone else in the same business,and thats saying something as i am also from ireland.i have a business in spain and i am going to ged rid of it as soon as possible.Please please try spain before moving as it is really not the the nirvana many people think it is.