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When Jinnie chose treacle tart and custard for her dessert the waiter asked if she wanted ice cream as well and it got her thinking. Who supplied P&O with their ice cream, she wondered. It was decent ice cream and the twins who were ice cream connoisseurs liked it. But she was told by Monica that Frank’s Original took some beating and was only made with natural ingredients. If things went well, could she get Brooke to use her contacts with P&O and even Carnival to get their product on board. Still, it was all a dream at the moment.
As she had promised Monica had phoned Jinnie every day, sometimes twice and once three times. Jinnie was happy with the project’s progress. Monica’s report had arrived late on the day after Jinnie had spoken with her. Jinnie skim read it before forwarding it electronically to Alberto, Sir Nigel and Brian. She then read it through more slowly and scribbled notes on the P&O notepad that was on the cabin’s dressing table. It was nearly time for dinner by the time she had finished and she had reflected on the report over her dinner.
Being four hours behind the UK Jinnie didn’t expect any replies that evening as it would be ten at night before the report arrived in her fellow directors’ inboxes. Still thinking about ice cream she asked the twins what their favourite flavour was. They looked at her in amazement before chorusing, “Chocolate of course”, causing much amusement around the table. George, always ready for a leg pull, said, “I would never have guessed, I thought you liked Tutti Fruitti.” Willie looked disgusted and replied, “No that’s Daddy because it’s Italian.” Millie joined in saying, “and Mummy’s favourite is coffee.”
Jinnie laughed because they were 100% right and the rest of the table joined in with rum and raisin, vanilla, mint chocolate chip, strawberry and butter pecan all getting a mention. Jinnie made mental notes of the various favourites and decided to check what flavours Frank’s Original came in.
***
Jinnie was eating breakfast in the Epicurean when her phone pinged. Looking at it there was a message from Alberto. It was short and to the point. ‘We held a board meeting this morning and we have authorised Monica to make an immediate bid based on the figures in her report. Thank you for bringing this project to the board – Alberto’. The twins noticed their mother’s huge smile and Willie said “You look happy Mummy, was that a good message.” “It was a message from Uncle Alberto, we are going to buy an ice cream company.” “Good,” said Millie, “We can get lots of free ice cream.”
As soon as she was back in the suite Jinnie phoned Monica but it was Ro who answered. “Hi boss,” she said, “Monica is on the phone to Franks, she says she will phone you back soon. Brian was on the phone earlier and he is transferring the money and will be on a plane ASAP to help with the negotiations.” “That’s good,” replied Jinnie. “This is the last full day of our holiday, we fly home overnight tomorrow. Tell Monica I will be around to talk all day today and up to about 17:30 when the plane takes off tomorrow. The plane is a charter and doesn’t have a mobile signal so I’ll be out of contact until we land at Gatwick at about 05:30 but then I’ll be on UK time and I’ll will be four hours ahead of you.”
Jinnie was with Izzy doing the last of the twins’ packing when Monica called back starting the conversation just like Ro with a, “Hi boss. I finally got a few minutes. I’m in the car on the way to the lawyer and you’re on speaker phone. I have to sign some paperwork for them to proceed.” “Tell me how it’s going,” asked Jinnie. “It’s crazy,” replied Monica, “and partly of our own making. We have a verbal agreement to buy Franks Original Ice Cream, all its trademarks, supply and purchasing contracts, manufacturing plants, distribution networks and to take on all its staff at the price in the report. But they are questioning how a small company like Bearcat Foods (USA) can afford to pay so much more than its net worth for the business.”
“I have explained that we are a small division of an international company and the money is there,” continued Monica. “They then wanted to know why the main company wasn’t buying them. I pointed out that it was legally easier for one US firm to acquire another than for a British company to buy an American one. Like many American companies they only operate in a few states and don’t have any understanding of international operations and laws. I think they will only be happy when Brian arrives this afternoon. I get the impression they think he is bringing suitcases of dollars with him when in effect the money is already sitting in the local branch of Barclays.”
“So Brian is on his way,” asked Jinnie. “I think he should be landing about now,” replied Monica. “Ro has gone to the airport to collect him, and he is staying with her and Jed. But I’m afraid we have a big meeting with the people from Franks at five this evening. They and their lawyers are flying in from Atlanta, and we are hosting the meeting in our boardroom. I can only say how glad I am that the bespoke furniture is in place and Jed has got all the fancy electronics working. It is most impressive.”
“It’s a pity about the lift lobby,” said Jinnie. “Oh, didn’t I tell you, the landlord has done it up and has moved his maintenance gang on to do the next two floors in the hope that we will be taking one soon,” said Monica. “Well, I think we may have to take one immediately. The Franks Original Division’s office is in the Franks offices in Atlanta, and we can’t leave them there. It either find them new offices in Atlanta or relocate them to Tampa with us. I prefer the latter. We have a couple of months before they get kicked out of Franks HQ, it will give me time to decide who I want to keep on their management team. Of course, there is no need to relocate the clerks, the secretaries and the post room. We have all that here or we can hire locally. HR are going to be busy, as are Jed’s IT boys. Procurement is going to have to sort out furniture and office equipment, I’m not shipping stuff from Atlanta, it’s cheaper to buy new.”
“You seem to have thought of everything,” said Jinnie. “I hope so,” replied Monica. “But much of the organising and office planning has been down to Ro, while I have to also look after the running of Aunty JoJo’s. She really is very capable. She has even had Belinda’s refurbishment contractors in to see what we can do quickly on the next floor to make it decent. I was talking to Belinda when I spoke to Brian, she is glad she bought the contractor, she sees a lot more work needing to be done, new Aunty JoJo’s, more hotels, even restaurants, and paying them is not money going out of the business.” “I’m hardly surprised,” said Jinnie, “she told me that was the direction she wanted to go when we were setting up Bearcat Foods (USA). It’s what she’s done in Canada, Ireland and of course Barbados with Keith’s Refurbishment.”
“Perhaps you should be looking at taking both of those empty floors, the US business is growing much faster than I anticipated,” continued Jinnie. “The hotels and the restaurant divisions will soon need more office space than you can afford to give them on your single floor and if SuperBurger do dip a toe in the market then they will need space. Yes, I’m decided, I want you to take both those floors, it will make the logistic of moving Franks Original to Tampa easier, stick them temporarily on one floor while the contractor sorts out the accommodation for them properly on the other. Think about separating out core services who can serve across all the groups, HR is obvious, but you will need a central post room, maybe procurement, in-house maintenance for when a light blows or you need to move people about. IT is another, although they already have their computer room, but they are going to need more office space, perhaps that vacated by HR. Talk to Jed, he is going to be busy and will need extra staff.”
“I’ve arrived at the lawyers,” said Monica, “so I better finish this call. But you have given me a lot to think about.” “Ring if you need to talk about anything,” said Jinnie, “but you have good people there with Ro, Jed and Brian, they make a good team. I expect to have a message soon telling me that we are the owners of Franks Original and then the real work will start.”
***
Jinnie and the other adults (except the twin-sitting Izzy) were enjoying a last evening of the cruise drinking in the Crow’s Nest when Jinnie’s phone rang. Looking at the screen, she saw it was Monica. “I hope I haven’t disturbed you, but I had to tell you the deal is all but done. We have signed a preliminary contract and paid a 10% deposit. It’s all with lawyers to draw up the final contract and it should only take a couple of days.” “That’s marvellous news,” replied Jinnie, “congratulations to everyone.” “Ro, Brian and I are having a coffee and a wind-up meeting before going home,” said Monica. “Brian says it’s too late to tell Alberto, he says it’s 2:30 in England, so we will ring him as soon as we get together in the morning.”
“Well, I going to order some celebratory champagne,” said Jinnie, “we can drink to a fabulous holiday and a new business. I will have to get out to Tampa as soon as I can I want to learn about the new business.” “We would love to have a celebration drink,” said Monica, “but we have to drive home.” “I’ll take you out to dinner when I come over,” said Jinnie.
Jinnie decided to go back to the suite and order the champagne through room service, that way Izzy could join them. The champagne arrived within ten minutes of the phone call to order it and Paolo gave the waiter a good tip. Jinnie had ordered four bottles, ice buckets and eight champagne flutes and the waiter wheeled it in on a little trolley and asked if he should open and serve the drinks, but Paolo had said “no thank you.”
Izzy wanted to know what they were celebrating and Jinnie explained they were now in the ice cream business. Izzy replied, “Wait until the twins hear, they will expect ice cream every meal.” “I’m afraid they will be disappointed,” said Jinnie, “it is an American business although I would like to bring it to the U.K., Canada and the Caribbean initially selling through Aunty JoJo’s, SuperBurger, sandwich shops and supplying our restaurants, and hotels. Eventually, I want to have seaside ice cream parlours. But we will first need to set up a factory and a distribution network. We will need to get the public familiar with a new brand. That’s a job for Caroline and she can prepare a press release for when the contract is formally signed.”
Jinnie left it to about noon before she rang the office knowing that although it was only 8am in the U.K. the early birds would be in the office. That almost certainly included Janet, Sir Nigel and Carol. Alberto was rarely in before eleven as he always stayed late at the Trattoria Trevi and Brian was still in Tampa. She rang Alberto’s landline knowing Janet would answer and asked her to tell Alberto they were now in the ice cream business as soon as he got in and that if he wanted to talk details it would probably be better he phoned Monica or Brian as she was flying home later.
Jinnie then asked Janet to transfer the call to Sir Nigel and first she broke the news to him and then said that as the new business director he should start looking at setting up a Franks Original business in the U.K. Jinnie suggested there were two possible routes, set up their own factory and distribution business or purchase a small existing company. Nigel thought for a moment before replying, “We have no experience of making, distributing or selling ice cream, if we set up our own business we are going to have to hire in the expertise. I suspect we already have the distribution ability in-house, but if we buy a small business we get everything we need, and I suspect it might well be the best way to go.”
Jinnie said, “I’m also inclined towards the latter, but I think we need to investigate both routes to market. I suggest you talk to Monica and get put in touch with the Franks Original management, they can advise what we need to set up on a small scale, say in the southeast of England. At the same time see if we can find someone smallish to buy. Personally, I would prefer to buy a going concern that is making money and makes its own quality product, we could then convert their production line to Franks.” “OK,” said Sir Nigel, “I’ll get a couple my team on it immediately and personally oversee them.” “I don’t think I’ll be in the office tomorrow as we don’t land until early morning, but come round tomorrow for dinner, the twins would love to see you, and we can open our Christmas presents.”
Jinnie’s last conversation was with Caroline Harmon, her head of publicity. Jinnie told her about the new venture and asked her to prepare a press release that could be released once the deal was closed. Jinnie told Caroline that this purchase would initially be limited to the southeastern United States market where Franks Original was currently available, but it would quickly become available at all TT SuperBurger Group outlets in the US. Jinnie said perhaps she would like to hint at Franks Original coming to the U.K. soon and would also be sold through all TT SuperBurger outlets.
Caroline said, “I can certainly make something from that, I’ll get a press release ready and run it past you before it goes out. Can I also do a write-up for the staff newsletter. It will need to be a bit more in depth. Maybe with an interview with Monica and the head of the ice cream group in Tampa. It would mean flying out for the interviews and taking some photos. The second edition is about to go to the printers, so Franks can be the lead for the third edition. Did I tell you we got a lot of good feedback from the first edition, and I have included a letters page in the second edition. The lead story is about the vineyard in Sussex and how it is now all planted but is going to be three years before we hopefully get a decent grape harvest.”
“Now that’s a thought,” said Jinnie, “I wonder if we could make and sell our own ice cream on site. We could have a viewing area like the one planned for the winery. I must talk to Nigel and feed the idea into his research. Now I intend to visit our US, Canadian and Slovenian operations in the next few months, I think it would be a good idea if you came with me. I take it that now Cathy is settled in you are happy to do a few overseas trips.” “Oh yes,” replied Caroline, “Cathy has got the girls into a routine, and I have had a couple of nights away doing stories about the new Trattoria Trevi in Edinburgh and the 2,000th UK SuperBurger in Cleethorpes.”
***
The twins knew the procedure for leaving the ship now and insisted the party went to the “Pink” group meeting point in the ship’s theatre 15 minutes before their allotted time and took seats in the front row on the right-hand side. They knew that the group was always led to the gangway, and the waiting airport coaches, out of the starboard side theatre exit and they wanted to be first so they could get the front seats on the coach to the airport. Their group was called bang on the allotted time and to make things even easier for them the guide called for all Pink group families with children sitting in the first three rows to follow another guide to the gangway. The twins were off like a rocket with the family close behind them. When they reached the bottom of the gangway Willie turned to the adults and said, “We are going to run and be first in the coach queue,” and they were gone.
The rest of the party made their way along the dockside with Arvia towering over them until they reached the queue where Willie and Millie stood proudly at the front chatting to two local girls in their P&O uniforms and carrying official-looking clipboards. One of the girls counted off the first 34 people and led them to the first coach and to the twins’ delight they got the front seats on the passenger side while Uncle Dan and Auntie Penny sat behind the driver.
At the airport they were taken to the ‘satellite terminal’, their boarding passes were checked and then they went through security before finding themselves in the building that also served as the hangar for the British Airways Concorde that had been gifted to Barbados when supersonic services halted. The hangar had been converted into an overspill terminal building with rows of seats on either side and the plane in the middle. The twins stood open mouthed, they had flown quite a lot, but it had usually been on wide-body aircraft. But this was different, it was slim, sleek and angular. The windows were tiny, it had a nose that came to a point and what George told them were delta wings. It was magnificent.
Jinnie grabbed a row of seats that was actually under a wing, and the twins went off with Uncle Dan and George to explore by doing a circuit around the plane. When they got back they told Jinnie that Uncle Dan had used their phones to take pictures of them with the plane in the background to prove they had seen Concorde. Millie explained that when they told the class about it no one would believe them, especially Mrs Pilbeam, until they showed them the pictures. Willie said, “This is the best day of the holiday because seeing Concorde was a big surprise.”
Jinnie loved seeing Concorde, it was rather special, but she was just a little bit disappointed that they weren’t using the main terminal building, as she had been looking forward to checking out the company’s outlet as a mystery shopper. In one corner of the terminal was a cafe/restaurant and a small counter selling duty-free alcohol and tobacco. Jinnie considered, for a moment, if it would be worth opening an outlet in this terminal, but she quickly dismissed the thought. This was only an overspill terminal, it was handling around seven charters today and another seven tomorrow. Next week it would be handling less when the smaller Britannia was in port for its change-over days. There were simply not the passenger numbers to make a profit, especially in competition with an existing cafe/restaurant.
As usual the first call for the TUI flight to Gatwick was for families with children seated in the premium cabin. Again the twins wasted no time, they were off to lead the short queue that quickly formed at the terminal’s single departure gate. Jinnie felt a little embarrassed to push to the front of the queue to join the twins, just as the call went out for the remaining premium class passengers.
The bus to the plane arrived and the twins were off again. When Jinnie and the rest of the party stepped aboard the twins were sat by the door occupying two of the few seats on board. As the Granny and Grandpa climbed on board the twins jumped up and, much to Izzy’s delight, gave the seats to their grandparents. James thanked them and said “That is a very kind gesture, you two are showing you have manners.”
***
The plane landed at Gatwick a few minutes early and the party were quickly recovering their cars from the valet parking and were on their way to Potters Bar within 30 minutes of landing. The twins had donned anoraks walking through the airport and were complaining of the cold. Paolo turned up the car’s A/C and by the time the car reached the M25 the twins had stopped moaning.
Jinnie came off the motorway at the Potters Bar and headed to the Tesco Megastore near the TT SuperBurger head office. Jinnie and Izzy popped in and were quickly back out with milk, bread, butter, eggs, bacon, sausages and OJ. They were quickly home and the twins zipped up their anoraks and waited in the warm car until Jinnie had opened the front door, picked up the mail and said hello to Larry. Once they were satisfied they wouldn’t have to wait in the cold while their mother opened the door and sorted things out the twins ran from the car through the open front door down the hallway and into the warm kitchen where they closed the door behind them. There Izzy was loading the shopping into the fridge and asked the twins to help.
With the luggage brought in from the car and the front door closed the house soon warmed up again and the twins took their coats off and sorted the mail into piles for the adults and one for junk mail. Izzy asked, “Who wants a hot drink while we open the post?” Jinnie answered, “I just fancy a big mug of strong tea, the tea on the plane and the ship was never strong enough.” Every other adult joined in and asked for tea, while the twins asked for hot chocolate and biscuits.
As Izzy gave the twins their Tunnocks Caramel Wafers, Sir Nigel arrived at the kitchen door with two carrier bags full of presents saying, “Happy second Christmas everyone. Look at all the presents Santa left at my house for safekeeping. And before you ask I would love a cup of tea and one of those wafers. I need to warm up. I didn’t realise how cold it was out. I understand snow is forecast for later this week.” “Goodie,” replied Millie, “We like snow.”
They all moved into the lounge where there was another heap of parcels and there followed a general parcel opening. The twins’ favourite present was new Nike trainers from their parents and Larry was in cat heaven as he went back and forward sitting in either box. Like last year there seemed to have been a bit of family coordination going on with the twins’ presents as Uncle Nigel had bought them both a Nintendo Switch games console and other family members had bought them various games and accessories.
The twins retreated to the TV room to play Super Mario with George, while the remainder of the family relaxed with a glass of wine. Jinnie phoned her dinner order through for a six o’clock delivery. Her parents and sister were due to arrive at five so they could have a drink before dinner, both groups had ordered taxis so that they could all have a drink with the special second Christmas dinner. Sir Nigel asked Jinnie if she was happy for him to talk business in front of Paolo and Izzy and she replied, “Please go ahead, if I can’t trust these two, who can I trust. But we could always discuss things in the office tomorrow.” “I don’t think so,” said Sir Nigel, “Have you forgotten tomorrow is Sunday.”
“Setting up a company from scratch looks to be prohibitively expensive,” said Sir Nigel, “particularly the production facilities and recruiting experienced staff so I have been concentrating on an acquisition. I think I have found a perfect fit. Sussex Coast Ice Cream is a small company based in Worthing. They have a production line in a factory they lease on the Broadwater Industrial Estate and an established business supplying small 125 ml tubs with wooden spoon in the lid to independent cinemas and theatres between Bognor and Brighton and inland as far as Crawley. They make half-litre and litre containers that are sold in local independent outlets like convenience stores and sweet shops, and bigger 5 litre catering containers that go to cafés, restaurants, hotels, guesthouses and several shops on Worthing, Littlehampton, Brighton and Hove promenades and an ice cream parlour in Shoreham.
“The catering packs are supplied branded and unbranded,” continued Sir Nigel. “The shops on the seafront prefer to pretend it is their own product they are scooping into a kids cornet so they take unbranded, while the restaurant, hotels etc. don’t care as the customer doesn’t see the container. They also have their own distribution arm with a couple of small freezer lorries.”
“I’m interested,” said Jinnie, “are they up for a deal? Could we scale up the business? Are they willing to switch to Frank’s Original? Can I have a look at the business?” “Let’s see if I can remember all those questions,” said Sir Nigel. “I think if I tell you what I did yesterday it might give you a lot of answers. When I identified Sussex Coast as a prospect, I bit the bullet and phoned the company, saying I was interested in investing in the company and asked if I could see the company and talk with the owner.”
“Well, I got a meeting yesterday afternoon,” continued Sir Nigel. “So, I jumped in the Roller and Freddie drove me down. The boss and his wife instantly recognised me. So, I had to come clean and said I was there as TT SuperBurger’s new business director. The couple own the company between them and although the company is making good money, they don’t have enough to undertake their expansion plans and were looking for investment and had been talking to their bank. Apparently the bank sees the business as ‘seasonal’ and is a bit reluctant to make a big enough loan. The accounts I saw show that the shops on the proms drop off in winter, but the rest of the business is pretty consistent.”
“I had a look at the production facility and was impressed, it was absolutely spotless, all white tiles and stainless steel,” said Sir Nigel. “Scott showed me his plans and costing to put in a second production line which would allow them to double the number of flavours they make. He says he also wants to produce sorbets because what he called the ‘sit down’ market is asking for it. I asked if he was only interested in investment or would he be up for a sale and him and all his people staying on with him running the business. He and Dominique said they would prefer to be taken over as they running the business day to day was the easy bit, it was all the worries about money that was draining and working for a big company with others to worry about that would be ideal.”
“As for visiting, I have a second meeting arranged for Tuesday morning to talk money,” said Sir Nigel. “I have arranged for Brian to attend, and their financial advisor will be there. Oh yes, Belinda is coming to have a look at the expansion plans, so I’m sure you could come along. Freddie is driving me down again and you are welcome to come with me. Oh, one other thing, Freddie and I stayed over for dinner in Worthing and ate in a fabulous seafood restaurant on what I understand is called Splash Point. I had a scallop starter and lobster main, and it was delicious, so I have booked to take the Smiths, Brian and Belinda to dinner there on Tuesday, I’m sure I can add one more.”
“That sounds perfect,” said Jinnie, “and it may allow me to progress another idea.”
In Chapter 7 – A plan emerges
© WorthingGooner 2025
