ICE cream production in North Yorkshire is proving to be a growing industry as a York manufacturer secures its first export order and the region hosts a national conference.

As the Ice Cream Expo 2015 draws to a close at the Yorkshire Event Centre in Harrogate, Acaster Malbis-based Yorvale has delivered its first order to the Falkland Islands.

Yorvale’s ice cream, sorbet and Yoryog frozen yoghurt is now on sale in the Falklands through a partnership with Turner Price Export, which has been exporting foods to more than 50 countries for more than 30 years.

The Yorvale products will be on sale at the Falkland Islands-owned Seafish Chandlery Supermarket, part of Seafish (Falklands) Ltd.

Lesley Buxton, Yorvale director, said they hope the exports will sell well in the Falklands.

She said: “It’s nice to think your product is in demand in another country. We’re very busy at the moment but we think there are a lot of opportunities abroad for us to explore in the future.”

Mrs Buxton met Neville Hayward, retail manager for Chandlery Supermarkets, at the Turner Price Catering Tradeshow in September last year where the initiative for exporting Yorvale began.

Mr Hayward said: “I had my first taste of Yorvale at the September tradeshow. With a bit of advertising and sampling, I hope people in the Falklands enjoy it as much as I did and fingers crossed, it becomes popular.”

Yorvale’s export success comes as Britain reports a booming ice cream market, with the industry, which is worth more than £1 billion, forecast to continue to expand for a lest five years.

Data revealing the best sales figures in ten years for 2014, was released at the three-day Ice Cream Expo, in Harrogate, the final day of which was yesterday.

Zelica Carr, chief executive of the Ice Cream Alliance which organises the Expo, said: “We have had a growing number of new exhibitors attending and strong interest from international companies looking to invest or supply the UK industry.

“They can see that there are many opportunities for them both directly in the supply of ice cream products and ingredients but also in supporting services such as refrigeration, uniforms, cleaning materials, insurance and fixtures and fittings for their parlours, shops and ice cream vans.

“The expo showcased a range of new ice cream flavours which will be available to the public for the first time this summer.”

The Expo is the largest of its kind in the UK and is the only exhibition dedicated solely to the ice-cream industry.