Newspaper Article 1996 – A Kiwi ice cream icon turns 70

Famous Rush Munro’s Celebrating 70 years

A Kiwi ice cream icon turns 70

In 70 years Rush Munro ice-cream has made the leap from simple product to a Kiwi cultural icon.

The popularity of this most famous of home-made ice-cream in the country continues to endure.

At a time in our history when the “small guy” struggles to survive in the business world, Rush Munro refuses to lie down and get trampled under the hooves of galloping corporates.

The quaint “folk art” Rush Munro ice-cream garden in Heretaunga St continues to act like a welcome beacon for people seeking enjoyment from a product in a place where time stands still.

Here you can rendezvous with innocence, fantasy – even romance.

There has been more than the odd couple of relationships started after eyes met in the garden over the top of a double maple walnut or several other perfect flavours that have tantalised taste buds since 1926.

It was back then when Frederick Charles Rush-Munro introduced Hawke’s Bay to the superior flavour of hand churned, batch-produced ice-cream from secret recipes.

In fact the recipes have remained perhaps Hawke’s Bay only industrial secret.

The mystique of the “hush hush” recipes has endured because in the past 70 years there have been only three owners of Rush Munro.

The second owners, Mr and Mrs Jack Caulton, took over in the 1940s and the new owner, Alister McSporran, has been at the churn for the past 10 years.

It is under Mr McSporran’s direction that Rush Munro has expanded its flavour range into the “smart taste” category with designer recipes tailored for selected restaurants.

Mr McSporran is quick to point out that Rush Munro will not compromise the “intimate quality” of the product for the sake of growth.

“We have a long way to go and still remain small,” he said.

Remaining small is what the Rush Munro story is all about – how someone in a back room took a simple idea that became a legend.

Rush Munro ice-cream may reach further afield these day but at the little green garden in Heretaunga St. the memories remain the same.

So it has been 70 years. Many hope Rush Munro – now the oldest ice-cream maker in the country – will last for another 70 years and beyond.

To mark the occasion, Rush Munro will throw a birthday bash that will culminate in the judging of a colouring competition on December 24.

Hastings Mayor Jeremy Dwyer will announce the winner of a brand-new bike, and then the “kids” (of all ages) will be invited to “tuck in” to a huge layered Rush Munro ice-cream cake.

Photo captions –

‘How it all was’ – Rush Munro’s Heretaunga St garden in the 1930s.

Rush Munro‘s as it is today.

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KIDS – WIN GREAT PRIZES
To celebrate 70 years in business
RUSH MUNRO’S is giving you the opportunity to WIN
With a colouring competition for children under 13 years
1ST PRIZE – Mountain bike supplied by The Hub
2nd PRIZE – Cassette radio
3rd PRIZE – Cassette radio
Pick up an entry form from Rush Munro’s 704 Heretaunga Street West, Hastings
ALL WELCOME
Drawn December 24 at our Christmas party 12-2pm