I run an ice cream shop - the cost of 1 ingredient is leaving UK businesses on the brink

As the weather warms up, many of us will be craving a few scoops of fresh ice cream, but it turns out that making that sweet treat, especially chocolate ice cream, might be more expensive than you think. An ice cream shop in the town of Haslemere in Surrey has been finding it highly difficult to make a profit due to major increases in ingredient costs, with the price of chocolate rising over 240% in just the past two years, the BBC reported. Ben Govier, who has been in the business for over 17 years, said that even the chocolate sprinkles he buys have increased by 203%, while the cost of cocoa powder has gone up by more than 140%.

Ben Govier, who has been working in the business for more than 17 years told the BBC: "March and April have been really good. We have never been this busy. But we didn't make any money. It was insane."

He added: "The ice cream is more expensive to make and everyone obviously knows the electricity bills are mad."

In an Instagram post, the business said they'd seen a 160% increase in chocolate since last year.

According to the post from April 13, cocoa powder has jumped from £42 last year to a staggering £102 this year.

The Instagram post reads: "Chocolate Sorbet is back scooping in both shops, but for how long...

"The cost of our ingredients, especially chocolate ,is seeing absolutely crazy price rises. It's madness."

Govier, who has been making ice cream since he was a boy, founded the company in 2014.

The first ice cream parlour was opened in Haslemere to complement their two ice cream vans.

The company is named in tribute to Govier's cherished black Labrador, which is why the paw symbol features in their logo.

One TripAdvisor user from Kent wrote: "By far the best ice cream I have ever had. Lots of flavours to choose from and they are homemade and fresh."