Rays Ice Cream serves up scoops at the Fox & Hounds

James Moloney and Paul Clabburn of the Fox & Hounds pub in Wroughton are among the first partners to offer Rays products on the menu.

James said: “We’re thrilled to be able to offer this product to our customers.

"The quality is excellent and we want, where possible, to use local suppliers.

“Customers seem to appreciate the fact that we are doing this and we’ve so far offered flavours including chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, rum & raisin, bubblegum, honeycomb and apple pie.”

Rays founder Hadi Brooks welcomed the company’s move into the wholesale market.

She said: “It’s the next obvious step for our business to offer our products to other businesses such as pubs, hotels, restaurants, tourist venues and many more.

"We set up our commercial kitchen in 2018 after outgrowing our small kitchen in our two shops and now we’re ready to spread our wings.”

Hadi founded her business in Old Town in 2011 and since then, it has proved popular with customers in Swindon and at its second branch in Royal Wootton Bassett.

A Rays stall regularly appears at big outdoor events in Swindon, especially during the summer months.

Hadi’s team can make up to 150 flavours of ice cream, including vegan, gluten-free and even dog-friendly.

Vanilla, chocolate, raspberry ripple, bubblegum and salted caramel are the most popular flavours.

Hadi added: “The quality of our product is borne of great ingredients including local whole milk and double cream with no cheap fillers. Many ice creams contain no milk or cream at all.

"We make our ice cream in smaller batches and it’s churned slowly for a short amount of time, so it’s not full of air.

“Adding some air is an essential part of the ice cream making process because it stops it becoming rock hard. However, many brands have as much as 70 per cent air in their products.

"You can tell when you taste it, it’s called mouth-feel in the industry. Our products are denser, more luxurious and a lot more filling.”