When David Charman installed a Rebus bulk ice cube dispenser outside his forecourt shop at the beginning of June, little did he realise that several months later he would be using it for a charity fundraiser involving him getting into a bath of close to freezing water.
Together with three colleagues at his Spar Parkfoot BP garage, he took part in a chilly Ice Bath Challenge last month, raising £1,225 for two local charities.
He says that since installing the machine, which he spotted at the Forecourt Show in April, it has generated around £6,000 of sales.
“That’s incremental business too,” says Charman, “it is not taking away from existing ice cube sales from the freezer instore. Also most customers using the dispenser come in with their own cool box.”
That fact has allowed Charman to extend his frozen food range, which has since earlier this summer included Iceland products.
The organisations Charman and his colleagues raised the money for were sustainable food education charity and community garden Communigrow, and The Trottiscliffe School Association.
