Bristol’s first vegan ice cream van finds permanent home in the city

Bristol vegans! Get ready to welcome the city’s first permanent vegan ice cream truck!

Chris Reed launched The Happy Cow at the start of summer after spotting a gap in the market.

The truck was first spotted at the start of the summer selling plant-based Mr Whippy’s.

Moreover, The Happy Cow became the talk of Bristol and is now preparing for its permanent spot at the city’s harbourside.

Happy Cow

There is nothing quite like a dreamy vegan ice cream topped with delicious sprinkles and doused in sweet sticky sauce.

Thanks to The Happy Cow that dream is now a reality. Mine’s a cone with strawberry sauce!

Reed’s premium plant-based ice cream is made from a blend of plant-based milk and coconut oil, churned to perfection to recreate the nostalgic Mr Whippy taste.

The van is stocked with waffle cones and an array of irresistible vegan toppings, as well as compostable tubs and spoons.

“I’d only ever have made it if it was going to be better than normal ice cream”

Despite being in the vegan capital, The Happy Cow is the first ice cream van to sell only plant-based ice cream.

Although Reed is not a vegan, his decision to launch The Happy Cow came from the need to “do better”.

“Everyone is sceptical about vegan ice cream,” Reed told the Bristol Post

“I’d only ever have made it if it was going to be better than normal ice cream. I just thought I can do better. For ethical reasons, we can produce something better.”

In addition to selling dairy-free ice cream, Reed has big plans to make the truck itself carbon neutral and to run the van off biofuel from leftover oil from his fish and chip shop.

The Happy Cow is still awaiting its formal license, but soon the people of Bristol can find the pink and white truck parked up at Narrow Quat at the harborside.

Fancy making some vegan ice cream? Try this simple no-churn strawberry vegan ice cream!