From Homemade Scoops to a Thriving Business
In the midst of the uncertainty and challenges that the pandemic brought in 2020, one Belizean family saw an opportunity to spread joy, one scoop at a time. Meet the dynamic duo behind Arctic 10, the father-son team whose ice cream venture is serving up smiles and sweet success to the people of Belize. Sabreena tells us more in this week’s Look on the Bright Side.
Sabreena Daly, Reporting
It started when Erwin Arthurs Sr. became renowned for his ice creams at family potlucks, where each gathering held the delightful anticipation of a new and unique flavor.
Erwin Arthurs Sr.
Erwin Arthurs Sr., Owner, Arctic 10
“That would be the thing I would bring, because normally as a family, we all bring something to the occasion. So, that would be my thing. So, everybody would wonder what new flavor I would bring this year and I usually just try to keep it a little secret until they actually see what flavor I brought.”
For Erwin Arthurs Sr., those family gatherings were a chance to unveil his latest homemade ice cream creation, keeping the flavors a guarded secret until the big reveal. It was a tradition that sparked curiosity and then a bold suggestion.
Erwin Arthurs Sr.
“When they tasted the quality and the unique flavors that we tried to make, they said this could be a business and when you look around Ladyville, I’m not sure if you’re familiar with Ladyville, but there’s not many places like that around there. I mean, of course, you’d get this store bought ice cream, but you wouldn’t get something unique like this.”
In the early days of the pandemic, when many were grappling with lockdowns and isolation, Erwin and his namesake son decided to embark on a journey that would not only bring their family closer, but also bring a sense of delight to their community. That venture began spreading joy one scoop at a time, through a family ice cream business called Arctic 10. Twenty-year old Erwin Jr. jumped head first into his new responsibility.
Erwin Arthurs Jr.
Erwin Arthurs Jr., Manager, Arctic 10
“Well, at first I was a bit shocked because it’s just something we do for fun. It was very challenging starting a new business, but we just found ways around that. We didn’t let the pandemic discourage us from starting a business. For example, the Ladyville Branch, if you’ve ever been there, you would see it’s an open air, outdoor style. The reasoning behind that was because we didn’t want to have to close our shop due to any new protocols or COVID precautions. And it was also for the safety of our customers. So it was challenging, but we just found ways around it.”
The residents of Ladyville were quickly impressed by the homemade ice creams. Ranging from alcoholic infusions to imaginative ingredients conjured by the father. The community then got involved, making suggestions and recommending new flavor ideas.
Erwin Arthurs Jr.
“We have a suggestion board in the back that’s always open for our customers to leave any suggestions they would want us to try and make. So based on that, that’s how we come up with the new flavors. I think one of the things that mainly helps us with our weirder outlandish flavors is that we use a natural ingredient. So it’s always easy for us to bring out the flavor because we don’t really use flavoring or essence or anything artificial. So, whatever we make, it has the actual item in it. Maybe the black fruit cake. A lot of people were surprised that we made that, but it was really good. A lot of people enjoyed it.”
As word of these unique ice creams started to spread, it didn’t take long before patrons beyond Ladyville made the trip, expressing that they had traveled from the city to indulge in the celebrated ice cream. This prompted Arctic 10 to branch out.
Erwin Arthurs Sr.
“When the Ladyville residents started to spread the news, we didn’t do much advertisement, but people heard about it from Belize City and started to drive all the way in the city. So, like he mentioned, we take a lot of feedback from the customers, so they started to tell us a lot about, um, We drive all the way to Ladyville. We need this in Belize today. We need it. So, I mean, we kept hearing that every Saturday, every Sunday and I mean, after two years we said it’s time and we made the move. The next move we’re thinking of is Belmopan. It’s a more central location and…I mean, we can’t hit all the districts right away, but that will allow people from the south, west to see what we’re all about. I want them to be satisfied. I want them to taste what they asked for or the flavor that they requested with appreciation. Um, that’s one of my big things as appreciation. We have to let people know that they’re not just a random person to us. They actually mean something.”
Arctic 10 is more than just an ice cream shop; it’s a symbol of family, community, and the indomitable spirit of turning challenges into opportunities. As they continue to serve up scoops of happiness, the Arthurs family reminds us that even in the face of adversity, there’s always a bright side worth savoring. Looking on the Bright Side, I’m Sabreena Daly
