An artisan ice cream made by a Suffolk farm shop and smallholding enterprise is now available nationwide - thanks to major contract.

Alder Tree ice cream is made by Alder Carr Farm, which is based at Creeting St Mary, Needham Market.

After scooping a new national contract with frozen ready meals maker Cook - which has shops across the country - the business has doubled in size.

Founder Stephany Hardingham said the contract came off the back of a Golden Fork for East Anglia award from the Guild of Fine Foods in 2022.

The ice cream has won multiple awards - and its blackcurrant flavour was recently crowned Grand Champion at the Great British Food Awards - the awards' highest honour.

Stephany - who now runs the farm shop and café at Alder Carr Farm as well as the ice cream operation - is thrilled.

"We have had a very exciting year for Alder Tree, and a couple of exciting announcements recently," she said.

"This year our Blackcurrant ice cream  was also crowned Grand Champion in the Great British Food Awards.  And we received Gold for our classic sausages, so we now also have an award-winning butchery," she said.

The farm shop has also received an accolade after it was shortlisted as one of the best in the country by the Farm Retail Awards. 

It will now vie with two other finalists in the Small Farm Shop category with turnovers of under £1.5m at an awards event sponsored by Cook. The event will take place on March 5 in Peterborough.

"We are the only business from the East of England to be shortlisted this year," said Stephany.

Judges described it as a business "nestled in the heart of the Suffolk countryside".

"Alder Carr Farm Shop champions local, seasonal and artisan produce, including its own butchery, and deli counter, and award-winning ice cream," they said.

Farm Retail Association chairwoman Emma Mosey said: “Farm shops and farmers markets continue to be the nation’s retail beacons for sourcing fresh and nutritious produce with low food miles, from passionate and knowledgeable often family-run, independent businesses.

“It is right that we celebrate the crucial role that these invaluable food and drink retailers play at the heart of the communities they serve.

"Running throughout our finalists are inspiring stories of innovation, consistent quality produce and customer service excellence: terrific achievements and qualities that have been demonstrated during a challenging period for retailers amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

“Congratulations to everyone who is shortlisted and good luck. This is your time to shine, and we are looking forward to celebrating your achievements in March at our grand awards ceremony.”

At the Great British Food Awards judge Paul Askew praised the "delicious flavour" of Alder Tree blackcurrant cream .

Alder Carr Farm's classic sausages were awarded a Gold Badge at this year’s Great British Food Awards.

They are made by hand using local free-range Blythburgh pork.

Chef judge Paul Agnew described them as “balanced and moreish".