Ernest Adams

23 November 1892 -29 August 1976

Ernest Alfred Adams was a baker, businessman and philanthropist.

He was born in the UK but learned his trade in Australia, before moving to New Zealand in 1921. He teamed up with Christchurch baker Hugh Bruce to form the hugely successful company, Adams Bruce Limited. Later they would form Ernest Adams Ltd to service the South Island market

Among his many legacies is the Queen Anne brand, his nationwide chain of shops famous for the high-quality Queen Anne range of chocolates and ice cream.

More about Ernest Adams ...

- 'Adams, Ernest Alfred', by Sarah Adams., from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.

W. Arthur Fisher

W. Arthur Fisher, an American civil engineer, came to New Zealand in 1923 with fellow American Capt. C.B. Colby, as the Australasian controllers for the Eskimo Pie franchise.

A group of Wellington investors was assembled to form a company to take up a license and Frozen Products, Ltd. was registered in July 1924 manufacturing under the Frosty Jack brand and with Fisher as General Manager.

On 22 July 1927 Fisher hosted the inaugural meeting of ice cream companies to discuss setting up an association at the Frozen Products' Vivian St. offices. Fisher was elected President at the meeting and is considered the founder of the New Zealand Ice Cream Manufacturers' Association (now known as the New Zealand Ice Cream Association) and was honoured as the Association's first Life Member. He was also on the executive of the NZ Association of Refrigeration.

In 1927 Fisher also established and became Managing Director of W. Arthur Fisher Ltd., a major importer and supplier of ice cream machinery. The company, now CSE W Arthur Fisher, still operates today.

Bob Fyfe

10 January 1927 - 20 June 2017

Robert Clark "Bob" Fyfe worked for Tip Top Ice Cream as part of General Foods Corporation (NZ) Ltd for many years, and was President of the NZ Ice Cream Manufacturers' Association from 1979-1982.

After 25 years of dedicated service to the industry Bob Fyfe was awarded Life Membership of the NZICA in 1983. The strength of the NZICA owed much to Bob's interest and dedication, and his consideration and understanding of the problems of all manufacturers irrespective of their size.

Sali Mahomet

? - 7 October 1943

Sali Mahomet began making ice cream and selling it from his red, white and gold ice cream cart in Christchurch's Cathedral Square in 1903.

By 1907 he was manufacturing in his own electric-powered "dairy" (a stand-alone building behind his house) at 69 Caledonia Rd., St. Albans.

Christchurch's ‘Ice Cream Charlie' became a city institution and continued to sell ice cream in the Square until 1942.

More about Sali Mahomet ...

Photo: Sali Mahomet in Cathedral Square, ca. 1930.
- Lost Christchurch.

Len Malaghan

18 February 1906 - 25 December 1967

Leonard Aloysius Patrick (Len) Malaghan had qualified as a dairy factory manager by age 18 and by age 20 was given the opportunity to train in ice cream production.

After stints at the Crystal, Dunedin and Arctic ice cream companies he joined forces with Bert Hayman to launch a new type of milk bar business, focussing on ice cream and milk shakes.

Their first milk bar, opened on the 10th of October 1935 in Manners St, Wellington, was a sensation and the Tip Top brand was born.

Len was the guiding technical force behind Tip Top's success and domination of the industry for over 80 years.

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John Murphy

John purchased Mel-O-Rich Products Ltd when it was just a small factory behind a milk bar in Miramar, Wellington. He built up the business, establishing a new factory in Park Road in the mid-80s, and achieving North Island-wide distribution and export capability. In 2000 the business was re-launched as The New Zealand Ice Cream Company Ltd.

John held the position of President of the NZ Ice Cream Manufacturers' Association for two terms (1994-1998) so he could finalise the harmonisation of Ice Cream Standards with the New Zealand Government and Australian Authorities. He was also instrumental in implementing the first New Zealand Ice Cream Awards competition.

In 2004 Life Membership of the NZICA was conferred on John Murphy for his tremendous efforts and contribution to the industry through a difficult time affecting the survival of the Association and industry.

Owen Norton

Owen Norton was born into the family ice cream business, Westland Snowflake Ice Cream Ltd, in Greymouth, and was working in it from the age of 15. He later managed Snowflake, which became one of the country's longest continuously operating ice cream companies, serving the Coast and well beyond for over 80 years.

Owen worked continuously for the NZ Ice Cream Manufacturers' Association for over 30 years, maintained strong relationships with other manufacturers, and was a very valuable ally of the industry. At one stage, when the Association was in peril of dissolving, Owen, together with Bob Fyfe, was responsible for ensuring the Association continued to exist. Owen was President of the Association from 1972-1977.

Owen was made a Life Member of the Association in 1992.

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Frederick C. Rush-Munro

1883 - 1976

Frederick "Rush" Rush-Munro was born in London in 1883 and emigrated to Auckland, New Zealand, setting up confectionery shops in Ponsonby Road then in Karangahape Road, where he was selling ice cream by 1919.

Frederick and his second Catherine moved to the Hawke's Bay and opened a new Rush Munro in central Hastings in 1926.

After the premises were destroyed in the devastating 1931 earthquake, they moved the business to the current site at 704 Heretaunga Street West, the shop evolving into the famous Rush Munro's Ice Cream Gardens.

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Brian & Jeanette Simon

Brian's father was an ice cream manufacturer and Brian joined the family business, Newjoy Ice Cream in Dunedin, at age 15, and worked there for 10 years. He then went farming for a few years and in 1963, with his wife Jeanette, founded the Manda Ice Cream Company in Invercargill.

In 1979 the family sold the Manda business and factory, and started up a new Invercargill-based business, Deep South Ice Cream. Deep South opened a brand new export-accredited factory in Hornby, Christchurch in September 1999, the only manufacturer at that time, besides Tip Top, to operate two plants.

Based on awards won, it could be argued that the Simons were the country's best ice cream makers of their day.

Brian was President of the NZ Ice Cream Manufacturers' Association from 1986-1988. In 2003, Brian and Jeanette Simon were awarded Life Membership of the NZICA for their long association and contribution to the industry.

Sadly Jeanette Alison Simon passed away on the 15th of February 2020.

More about Brian and Jeanette Simon ...

Murray Taylor

Murray originally worked for Tip Top Ice Cream as a food technologist, before leaving in 1977 to purchase New American Ice Cream, with business partner Russell Bond.

Murray was Managing Director of New American Ice Cream through its period of rapid expansion, then MD of United Dairy Foods, and later, Technical Manager for Fonterra Brands (Tip Top).

For several years he was a Director of OOB Ice Cream Ltd, manufacturing organic ice cream.

He is often called “Mister Ice Cream”.

Murray was President of the NZ Ice Cream Manufacturers' Association from 1984-1986, and a long-standing member and chairman of the Technical Committee. Murray was responsible for developing the Ice Cream Industry’s own Code of Practice, and has contributed enormously to the research and development of the New Zealand ice cream industry.

Murray was made a Lifetime Member of the NZ Ice Cream Manufacturers' Association in 2009.