IT'S a scoop... the most famous ice-cream business in our region is up for sale.

Appleby's Ices of Conisholme – an essential ingredient of growing up for thousands in Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire – has been put on the market by owner Jill Muldoon.

She is planning to retire from the business which has been run by the Appleby family for nearly a century.

Their mobile ice-cream vans are landmarks in the countryside around Louth and Market Rasen, as well as bustling Cleethorpes in the summer season.

And the parlour at Conisholme has been a popular stop-off for generations of day-trippers heading to and from the coast.

Mrs Muldoon looked back at the pioneering work of her grandfather, William Appleby, who owned the village store and began Appleby's Ices in 1913 – by mixing ice-cream by hand in a barrel until he found the perfect recipe.

She said: "We have been selling ice-cream on exactly the same site since 1913 when grandfather William would do anything to get more trade in.

"He began mixing ice-cream on a paraffin stove, found the perfect mix and then expanded into a wagon shed, turning it into an ice-cream factory."

The family business survived two world wars and several recessions thanks to the astute business sense and commitment to the family firm of Mrs Muldoon's parents, Ronald and Josephine Appleby.

Mrs Muldoon took over in 1980 and now it serves hot and cold meals, as well as Italian coffee.

She said: "It is quite pleasant, except for the occasional visit from UFOs to the wind farm, and people enjoy coming out at weekends.

"I am looking to retire. We have had the business on the market for some time and the likelihood of being able to sell it straight away in this climate means I don't expect to be retiring soon."

The firm employs a core staff of five, who are currently carrying out annual maintenance in preparation for the holiday season, when up to 25 staff are employed.

Mrs Muldoon hopes whoever takes over will keep the Appleby name, as Birmingham-based Bowen Travel Group did when it bought coach firm RW Appleby Ltd – which belonged to Mrs Muldoon's late brother, Stuart Appleby.

The well-known coach company was set up by Mrs Muldoon's father, who died in 2001 aged 88.

Bowen Travel Group acquired the business in October 2000.

Mrs Muldoon – who declined to put a price tag on the ice-cream business – added: "We hope someone makes a bid and they are someone who is going to keep it the way it is."

It is being sold by agents JH Walter, of Lincoln. For more information, visit www.jhwalter.co.uk

What are your memories of Applebys? What is your favourite flavour ice-cream? Post your comments on the bottom of this story, or email viewpoint@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk