When Alfonso’s Gelateria opened in Woodstock in the winter of 2021’s lockdown, everyone thought Lewis Ratto was mad. And yet 18 months year later business is booming and he is preparing to open a branch in Witney, with hopes for a future franchise in Oxford.
With a new production kitchen in Kidlington, and tuktuks in Summertown and Blenheim Palace, as well as a roaring events schedule, it’s been a busy year.
“I feel like Tom Hanks in Castaway. I’ve got past the big wave, so I’m nervous and excited all at the same time”
And yet come October, Lewis will be opening his second ice cream parlour in Marriots Walk in Witney in the old Whittards shop, and he can’t wait.
“There’s been a bit of a delay. We signed 15 months ago, but we’ve finally got the keys and it’s really exciting to be opening in Witney.
“It’s a really growing town, with lots of potential and young people living there, and it’s a great unit, really centrally located, so I’m really confident it will work, because there isn’t anything else like this in Witney,” he explains.
“it’s really exciting to be opening in Witney. It’s a really growing town with lots of potential so I’m really confident it will work”
Keys in hand, Lewis is busy designing the Gelateria’s interior and getting ready to open with more flavours and new dessert offerings.
You can expect his classics such as chocolate, hazelnut, pistachio, salted caramel, vanilla and chocolate, with mango and strawberry sorbets always on the menu too.
Specials might include mint stracciatella, cappuccino, dark chocolate, orange & almond honeycomb, ricotta & cherry or spiced mixed berries.
Lewis started Alfonso’s back in 2018 from his home in Kidlington, bringing his unmistakable ice cream tuktuk to Summertown back in 2018, where it quickly became a firm favourite.
Lewis is Italian and utterly dedicated to the craft of ice cream making, having moved to the UK aged 17. Having attended The Marlborough School in Woodstock and then completed a chemistry degree, Lewis took on a job as a lab technician by day so that by night he could experiment with new ice cream flavours and perfect his technique, determined to one day open his own ice cream company.
So what’s been the secret to his success? READ ABOUT ALFONOSO’S HERE http://551.326.mywebsitetransfer.com/ice-cream-frenzy-alfonso-gelateria-opening-first-shop-in-woodstock-next-week-after-overwhelming-success-of-deliveries/
“Everyone loves ice cream, but people return time and time again because of the quality and the consistency of our ice cream (Lewis makes all his ice cream himself and is constantly experimenting with new flavours).
“Opening in Woodstock went really well right from the beginning. It’s been really well received from day one but it’s definitely the repeat customers that keep the business going, even though a lot of tourists visit as well,” a steady stream of locals pouring through the door, proving his point.
As for his plans for Oxford, Lewis is currently planning a third branch in Oxford city centre, although nothing has been confirmed.
So is it a risk expanding so fast? “I feel like Tom Hanks in Castaway. I’ve got past the big wave,” he laughs, “so yes I’m nervous and excited all at the same time. But I’ve learned a lot over the past 18 months. It’s been a steep learning curve, but I can use that going forward. You have to believe in yourself and your product and just go for it.”
For more information go to https://alfonsogelateria.com
