As a popular Scots ice cream business scoops more industry recognition, the legacy left by the Lanarkshire businessman who started the family firm is being celebrated a century later.
For the Equi family, the latest honour is about more than awards, with the business still guided by the values established by its founder, Pietro Equi, when he opened the family’s first café in Hamilton in 1922.
Pietro had left Coreglia Antelminelli in Tuscany in 1915 to seek his fortune and got as far as the South Lanarkshire town.
He opened the café on Burnbank Road, bringing Italian ice cream-making traditions to Scotland. His son Roberto later took over the business in 1965, helping to establish the Equi’s name and reputation in the local community.
Roberto “Bobby” Equi was one of Hamilton’s most famous faces, crafting his creamy Italian ice cream to warm the hearts of Scots.
From the beginning, Equi’s has placed a strong emphasis on the quality of its ingredients, with the family today using whole milk from East Kilbride-based Park Farm and Scottish double cream to create the rich, creamy base that remains central to its ice cream.
David Equi joined the business in 1988 and has since helped transform it from a single family café into one of Scotland’s best-known ice cream brands, with products now available through major retailers and venues across the country.
The fourth generation is now playing an increasingly important role, with David’s daughter Alex Equi recently promoted to Deputy Managing Director.
Alex joined the business in 2021 after graduating from the University of Glasgow, having grown up around Equi’s and developed a passion for the family business from a young age.
“Some of my earliest memories are being in the factory with Dad, tasting new flavours, talking about new ideas and even helping choose the packaging for our ice cream,” said Alex.
“It’s a real privilege to be part of a business with such a long family history. I’ve always understood how much it means to our family and how much hard work has gone into building the business over the generations.
“While so much has changed since my great-grandfather first started making ice cream in Hamilton, the passion for making great ice cream remains exactly the same. I’m proud to now be part of the next chapter and to help take the business forward while protecting everything that makes Equi’s special.”
Alex’s arrival has coincided with a period of growth for Equi’s, including its first national Tesco listing and a partnership with the Scottish Event Campus, where it is now the official ice cream partner.
The business also moved into a new purpose-built factory in Rutherglen in 2022, marking its centenary and providing a production facility around 45 times the size of its previous factory.
Despite that growth, the family remains focused on the same principles that have been at the heart of Equi’s since 1922 – quality ingredients, traditional craftsmanship, a commitment to using Scottish ingredients wherever possible, and above all, making great ice cream.
This year’s Great Taste judges praised Equi’s Pistachio Swirl as an “exceptionally well-executed ice cream”, while Strawberry was described as “very well-made” with a natural taste and indulgent texture.
David Equi, CEO of Equi’s Ice Cream, said: “To be recognised by Great Taste for an 11th consecutive year is something the whole family and our team are incredibly proud of.
“My great-grandfather started the business because he missed the ice cream of Italy, and we’ve carried that legacy through the generations. We treasure all the awards we’ve received over the years, but what matters most is continuing to make ice cream to the standards that were instilled in us from the beginning.”
That commitment to quality is shared by its local supplier, with Park Farm also picking up recognition at the 2026 Great Taste Awards – giving the two Scottish businesses another reason to celebrate this year’s success.
With the fourth generation now helping to lead the business, the Equi family’s story continues more than 100 years after Pietro first began making ice cream in Hamilton.
Reflecting on their success 31 years after his father Roberto’s passing, David added: “We are proud every day to continue the business he loved so much.”