She is only 19 years old and is already the owner of the Smaak ice cream parlor in Diever. Amber van der Woude, also from Esdorp, took over the ice cream parlor from the former owner last month. With summer temperatures she can prepare for a busy Pentecost weekend.
“I think the line will stretch all the way to the greengrocer this afternoon,” expects the cheerful Amber. “Although that is often the case. We have prepared well by making a lot of ice cream in advance, so that we can focus on selling ice cream.”
Her colleagues have been busy all morning to have all the ice cream ready for the afternoon. More than fifteen people work in the business. “Fortunately, I have a few people who have been working here for a long time. This allows me to share the burden, for example by having them take charge when I want to leave for a while.”
She continues: “I hope there is some left for tomorrow. I was up late last night making ice cream.”
Four years ago, Amber started her part-time job in the ice cream parlor. “I have worked here every summer and have regularly been in charge there in recent years, together with a few colleagues.”
In November last year she indicated that she would like to take over the business. “The previous owner helped me a lot with the transfer. Operationally I know almost everything, but there are still many things, such as accounting, that I was not yet well informed about.”
According to her, the transfer went very smoothly. “It’s a lot of fun work and I really enjoy it!”
Smaak works in a different way than other ice cream parlors. Employees use a barrel to collect the milk in the morning from the Aalbers dairy farm in Dieverbrug, after which they make the milk mix themselves. Other ice cream parlors receive it ready-made.
Amber has several plans in the pipeline. “I think it would be very nice to be able to open in winter with tasty snacks, chocolates or high tea,” she says.
These innovations will just have to wait a while. “There needs to be renovation first. And an outdoor terrace is planned.”