The dulcet tones of Greensleeves could soon disappear from some neighbourhoods as a frozen Kiwi favourite comes under pressure from rising fuel prices and ongoing supply fears.
Stu Winfer and his wife, Kris, hold the franchise for Mr Whippy in Waikato South-East, driving their two mobile ice cream trucks around the streets of Cambridge, Matamata, Morrinsville, Te Awamutu and Kihikihi.
But with fuel prices up and fears supplies could come under pressure amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, they were considering cutting street runs in some towns, Stu Winfer said.
The couple, who live rurally between Te Awamutu and Ōtorohanga, would likely stick with places close to home – and there may be more parking up than driving around.
“Potentially Morrinsville, Matamata, Cambridge – those would probably be the three main towns that we do a lot of work with that we’d have to reduce down to [instead] just probably going into Te Awamutu, and maybe Kihikihi and Ōtorohanga.
“Those are the three towns that are closest to us.”
The couple would reconsider taking on some jobs, such as events in North Waikato or Coromandel, if fuel became difficult to get, Winfer said.
“The only way we’re going to be able to trade if fuel becomes really, really bad is to use what’s in the tank, think about where we’re going and then potentially talk to local businesses we already deal with about plugging into the electric so we’re not using the generator … because [otherwise] the costs are horrendous.”
Both vans run on diesel, which has risen by $1.38 on average in the past month to reach $3.19 a litre, according to fuel watchdog Gaspy.
Generators to run the ice cream service were fuelled by petrol, which is up between 85c and 91c in the last month to sit between $3.34 and $3.67 a litre, depending on its grade.
At some stations, the price of petrol nudged past $4 over the weekend.
The couple took on the franchise about four years ago, when Covid-19 restrictions were still in place, Winfer said.
But the fuel situation was more challenging.
“Covid was quite manageable because being a mobile trader, I think it was in Level 3, we were allowed to trade.
“But having no fuel will cause us a bigger impact. Without fuel, we can’t move.”
He hadn’t heard of other Mr Whippy franchise holders cutting back on street runs, but expected they’d also be wrestling with what to do.
“We’ve probably just been a bit more proactive [and] straight up with our thoughts. I’m very sure the others will be having the same conversation.”
But while the cost of fuel was hitting their bottom line, ice cream prices wouldn’t be going up, he said.
“We’ll try to absorb it. It’s not everybody else’s fault that we have to pay more for fuel.”
Winfer went public about the challenges facing the couple in a post to the franchise’s Facebook page yesterday, noting street runs may be cut in “the coming weeks”.
“I may just have to come to you”, wrote one fan, while others reacted with supportive emojis.
He wasn’t surprised by the response, Winfer said.
The 62-year-old Mr Whippy brand was strong, and had a following “that we didn’t understand until we bought the business”.
“It’s quite heartwarming really, that people do follow and support us.”