MILK & HONEY

Milk & Honey blends Scotland’s finest raw ingredients with the artistry of small batch, hand made ice cream making. Founded by Steve Sirinides and Andy Laing during the pandemic, the business has become a beloved part of the Stirling community. With a commitment to quality, sustainability and creativity, the friends are redefining the local ice cream experience one tub at a time.

GETTING THE INSIDE SCOOP

Milk & Honey began as a pandemic venture in the summer of 2020. Steve, a furloughed chef, started experimenting with ice cream recipes at his home in Riverside. When his friend Andy joined him a year later, the duo’s shared vision and passion transformed their hobby into a fully-fledged business.

“After developing my recipes, I either had to start selling the ice cream or stop altogether – there’s only so much ice cream one family can eat!” says Steve.

The name “Milk and Honey” reflects the abundance and excellence of Scotland’s local produce.

INTERNATIONAL INFLUENCE

Steve brings a unique cultural perspective to the business. Born in the US and raised in Greece, he has called Stirling home for the past 18 years. His culinary expertise drives the creation of Milk & Honey’s diverse and delicious flavours.

While Andy, originally from Bute, comes from a teaching background. His vision and determination were instrumental in bringing the business to life, starting in a garden shed kitchen and growing into the thriving operation it is today – with the business moving into a unit at STEP earlier this year to keep up with customer demand.

EACH BATCH MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Every batch is handmade with care, ensuring exceptional quality in every scoop.

“We take Scotland’s excellent raw ingredients and turn them into ice cream flavours both classic and unique,” says Andy.

“Everything is made by hand, so it takes that extra bit of time and care, but we hope the quality shows in our products.

“Our goal is to make the best ice cream possible.”

Milk & Honey’s signature flavours include Crème Brûlée, Apple Crumble (made with local apples) and Vanilla Bean.

“Crème Brûlée has been a huge hit, but the Apple Crumble with local apples is a firm favourite,” says Steve. “There’s a flavour for everyone, and every customer seems to have their own favourite.”

A SPOON FULL OF SUSTAINABILITY

Milk & Honey is deeply committed to sustainability, using kraft paper tubs that are easily recycled. They offer a wide range of vegan options and real-fruit sorbets to cater to diverse dietary needs.

Local collaboration is at the heart of their operations, working with partner restaurants and suppliers to make seasonal specials.

Even the stamp used for their packaging lids was made by a local stamp-making artist.

The duo’s support for the local community also extends to donating to raffles and championing causes close to their hearts.

FROM THE KITCHEN TO THE COMMUNITY

The Milk & Honey team consists of three kitchen staff and one member of admin staff. Together, they produce ice cream sold locally every Wednesday through Friday, with options for free local delivery or collection.

Milk and Honey’s products are also available at local farm shops and restaurants, such as The Woodhouse and The Coffee Bothy.

While Steve and Andy aren’t aiming to become the next ‘Ben & Jerry’s’, they plan to grow organically, expanding to more shops and making it even easier for customers to enjoy their ice cream.

“We are always looking for more local partners to work with to get more people trying our products – we’re always glad to hear from customers with recommendations about where they’d like to see our ice cream stocked!” says Steve.

Keep an eye on their social media to find out where Milk & Honey will pop up next!