Q1 2019

8 US BUSINESS NEWS / Q1 2019 , Beginning as a hobby, thirty years down the lineMiceál O’Hurley and his wife Oksana opened the doors to Fantastic Flavours Ice CreamParlour in 2013. Situated in the picturesque historic, seaside town of Youghal, County Cork in Ireland, Fantastic Flavours caters to families and people who prefer artisan quality ice cream, made by-hand, fresh daily, using locally sourced ingredients wherever possible. We profiled the firmand spoke toMiceál andOksanawho kindly gave us a glimpse into the delicious service found at Fantastic Flavours Ice CreamParlour. Fantastic Flavours Ice Cream Parlour: Pioneers in Artisan Ice Cream In 2013, amidst the crash of the Celtic Tiger economy, the dynamic-duo opened the doors to Fantastic Flavours Ice Cream Parlour. Built upon Miceál’s thirty-year old hobby of making ice cream, along with Oksana’s significant experience with a Fortune 500 company in customer service, the two quickly established a world-wide reputation for quality and service. Although founded in Ireland, Miceál, an Irish-American, is a decorated American veteran, and a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars who spent several years working on Capital Hill and in public service. His Ukrainian- born wife, Oksana, who has a background with a Fortune 500 company, was recognised by the United States Congress and presented with a Proclamation celebrating her humanitarian, business leadership and philanthropic work. Together, they have taken American-style, artisanal ice cream to Ireland and have conquered the market by storm. Along the way, Miceál and Oksana earned an impressive number of awards, stellar reviews from food critics and have been ranked No. 1 by customers on social networking sites. Now, they are returning home to spread the brand with like-minded American entrepreneurs who share the American dream of owning their own business. Fantastic Flavours Ice Cream Parlour uses locally sourced ingredients wherever they possible can. With attention to today’s trend of consumers demanding better quality, fresh ingredients and quality, their luxurious café has a robust and loyal local clientele who visit the award-winning establishment frequently, and tourists who flock from miles away, to taste their award-winning ice cream with ‘ More than 42 Flavours’ of handmade ice cream on rotation, daily. Responding to their success and market demand, the two are now offering franchises – with a difference. They understand the difficulties in starting a business, and the desire to do more than simply serve mass-produced products under a franchise agreement. Following the market- crash, Miceál and Oksana had only 500 Euros to start out. By reinvesting in their business daily, meticulously documenting what worked and what didn’t, and using the success and skills earned in their previous careers in business and politics, their hard work and commitment to Nov181007 quality and service quickly paid off. Fantastic Flavours has earned many food and customer service awards, have gained the admiration of a numerous