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Interviews with Working Mothers

Meet Dani Slatter, mother of two and ice cream entrepreneur…!

Dani Slatter is the owner of the UK’s first Fairtrade ice cream producer – Cotswold Ice Cream. It’s very much a family business as it is based on the family farm where the Slatter family have been in residence since 1926. The company’s mission – to get from cow to carton in one day – is achievable as they use milk from their own dairy herd, the same herd which was the original inspiration for Dani’s business.

“My husband is a dairy farmer, I wanted to do something related to the farm and adding value to a product already produced seemed to make sense.”

The main reason for looking for something she could do that was based at the farm came from the problems of juggling two small children and a full time job.

“Sam was under one and Charlie was three, I was working five days a week and although I had some flexibility it was a nightmare when one of them was ill. It was a small business and it was very difficult to juggle absence, especially when a colleague was off for prolonged time. I started to wonder about if I could be an effective member of the team when the boys reached school age. Working from home wasn't an option.”

Setting up the business has been a huge investment of time and money for Dani though she did take as much free advice and help as she could from friends and realtives – always a good thing to do if you can.

“I starting making ice cream through trial and error, taking advice from anyone who could help! On the business side, my husband is a very good business man and has helped me to get organized, which has been a source of great angst. The paper work involved with this business is colossal and my tendency is to flit from one thing to another, which just isn't effective.

“I have had to be more disciplined, organization has made my life much easier and it is gradually moving into more areas in my life. I have taught myself accounting, compliance with Enviromental Health, Labelling, Allergy information and I have had help with PR & Marketing. I needed about £50K to set the business up but my Dad did all of the building work so we did it much cheaper than it would have been.”

As with most small businesses owners in the early years, Dani is still working four days a week and the boys attend a local nursery. They are, however, her chief product testers and the flavours they currently have (Vanilla Bean, Strawberries & Cream, Double Chocolate & Passion Fruit & Mango Madness with another three coming in March.) have been rubber stamped by them.

“I have two half days off a week and I try not to work Saturday & Sunday but it is unavoidable in the Summer. My mum and mother-in-law often step in to the breach when needed, I couldn't be manage without their support.”

Cotswold Ice Cream is the only exclusively Fairtrade manufacturer in the UK. This involves working closely with Fairtrade to ensure compliance at every level including packaging and a quarterly audit. It was a particularly important aspect of the business for Dani and she is proud to be able to put the Fairtrade logo on her product.

“The relationships we have with suppliers are good, our Vanilla is from Uganda and my contact there is originally from just up the road so it is a small world!”

To find out where you can buy Cotswold Ice Cream, please visit www.cotswoldicecream.net/index.htm