The Di Meo family has been making traditional Italian treats for 100 years - but that does not mean there is no room to adapt to modern trends.
Di Meo's Ices, in Whitley Bay, has twice been crowned the best ice cream maker in Britain. The business is set to expand, with Whitley Bay ice cream kings Di Meo's are opening in Newcastle while Monument's Banyan Bar & Kitchen will stock Di Meo's ice cream with its desserts when it opens this week.
The family has a century of ice cream expertise in its genes, while Di Meo's parlour in Whitley Bay for almost two decades.
But new trends and dietary habits mean Di Meo's has had to innovate too - by producing vegan versions of ice cream. And, there are plans to create sugar-free flavours so diabetic people can enjoy a seaside treat too.
But don't worry if you enjoy dairy ice cream, it's not going anywhere.
One of Di Meo's latest recipes is a vegan stracciatella - vanilla gelato made with soya milk and rippled with vegan dark chocolate.
Luciano Di Meo told ChronicleLive that feedback has been positive.
"Vegans and people with allergies are loving it that they can enjoy ice cream now," said Luciano, who added that Di Meo's plans to experiment with sugar-free recipes, for diabetic customers
"Next I want to try and get rid of the sugar so diabetic people can eat it too."
Whitley Bay ice cream kings Di Meo's are opening in Newcastle
