Unprecedented heatwaves across Britain have driven intense demand for relief, prompting Europe’s largest ice manufacturing plant to describe the 2026 summer season as “exceptional”.
Operating non-stop throughout the warmer months, The Ice Co has maintained around-the-clock production at its facility in South Kirkby, West Yorkshire, where ice cubes are manufactured in their billions.
Sales director Nick Brennand explained that preparations start months ahead of the peak period, with the plant running at full capacity during snowy January to ensure a month’s reserve supply is stored in its frozen warehouse.
From that point, the workforce of 140 must remain ready to gear up for whatever conditions the British summer delivers.
Mr Brennand said: “This year has been completely exceptional.”
He said: “I think we’re on heatwave number six? We’ve never had such a sustained period of hot weather.
“The good weather started in June and we’ve still got it now in the middle of August, and they’re talking about another one in September?
“Normally, we’ll get maybe two to four good weeks in a year, and now we’re looking at 14 to 15, which makes a big difference.”
Mr Brennand said: “What we don’t know is when it’s going to shine and for how long.
“Sometimes we have hot Easters, sometimes we have hot Septembers, and everything in between.”
He said: “We get to a point in May or June when we are very much in the lap of the gods.
“If the sun shines, and it’s 35 degrees tomorrow, orders can go up five or tenfold.”
Mr Brennand said around 85 per cent of people still make their ice at home but, when a supermarket or hotel runs out, there is no other product that can replace it.
He said: “If you’re in a pub or a restaurant and they start rationing ice in your G&T on a Friday night, it’s not particularly nice. You want a nice cold drink.”
He said the normally challenging environment of The Ico Co warehouse at South Kirkby has been a haven for some on the hottest days over the last few weeks.
Mr Brennand said: “Believe me, everybody in the office have gone wandering into the warehouse for 10 minutes to cool down, because it’s minus 18 in there.
“If it’s warm outside, there’s no nicer place to be for five or 10 minutes – but only five or 10 minutes.”
The company was founded in 1860 and is still run by the sixth generation of the Marr family, which started by providing ice for its fishing business.
It makes around six billion ice cubes a year.
