A MIDSUMMER sales slump is leaving ice-cream companies with a lolly shortage.

Colder-than-average temperatures, downpours at the beginning of the month and just one hot spell since June have melted manufacturers' profits.

"We are enjoying some sales," said Duncan Bennett, of Lower Wick manufacturers Bennett's Dairies.

"But there hasn't been a peak at all.

"Sales are better than they were in the winter, but in summer we would expect to be up substantially.

"Unfortunately, the current weather has meant sales aren't what we expected. It's not horrendous, it's just not very good."

Dull, damp and cold weather has kept ice-cream buyers indoors, he claimed.

"Everyone's got low sales figures because ice cream's an impulse buy," Mr Bennett added.

"People buy from us in the high street because it's hot.

"Equally, in terms of take-home tubs, people carry on what they've been eating in the winter if the weather's cold.

"The bench mark is really when you can last remember sitting out in your garden and having to go inside for a drink because it was too hot.

"It hasn't happened very often this summer."

Finances

Rachel Hicks, of Bromsberrow ice cream makers Just Rachel, said high street sales were down.

But added the company's finances had been saved by its hotel and restaurant trade.

"Overall, sales are up on last year," she said.

"But mainly because we are getting better known. People do appreciate quality, but our retail outlets are down.

"It's directly attributable to the weather. We're all hoping for a better August."

September Organic Dairy, which branched out into organic ice cream last year, said its first full season of sales had been "fantastic".

"But it's only because we've widened our customer base," said spokeswoman Carey Glyn-Jones.

"If we had the same customer base as before, the weather would certainly have held us back."

Only Cromwells chocolatiers in Upton-upon-Severn seemed able to cash in on the rain-soaked summer.

The family business, which sells Bennett's ice cream, said customers flocked to the half-timbered shop whatever the weather.

"Ice cream sales have been down because the weather's not been very warm, but chocolate sales are up," said spokeswoman Kath Manning.

"It levels out for us."