IG Aiskrim — scoops of dream and ice-cream

From a stall to a store, the tenacity shown IG Aiskrim owners Ennabell Lee and her son proves that if you have the will, there is always a way. Though gula apong ice-cream is common in Sarawak, IG Aiskrim manages to find success with its unique brand and combinations of flavour.

MCO becomes a blessing in disguise

Ennabell Lee and her son, Branden — founders of IG Aiskrim.

THE trends in the food and beverage industry are constantly changing. Once, every diner and parlour were busy fusing durian into everything. From pizza to ice-blended drinks. So when Ennabell Lee and her son, owners of IG Aiskrim, churned out the next best trend, the duo merged the trends of gula apong ice-cream and bubble milk tea.

The fusion was what led them to success, as once the dessert was introduced, it became viral. Many flocked to their stalls to try the combination. The combination became an addiction to many. The gula apong ice-cream and bubble milk tea that Ennabell had prepared were not too over-thetop sweet, but the blend was a perfect balance of sweetness.

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Starting IG Aiskrim in June 2019, Ennabell first opened her stall at the Waterfront in Kuching.It was small but often thronged
with people wanting ice-cream. Simultaneously, Ennabell also sold fruits at the market nearby. When it was 4pm, it meant that it was time to open her ice-cream stall.

She credited her friend with the idea of opening an ice-cream business. IG Aiskrim grew from a stall to a store within two years. The 42-year-old has the pandemic to thank for. “The movement control order (MCO) was a blessing in disguise for me. When it started, markets could not open so I had no avenue to sell my fruits.

“It was a struggle, so I decided to give it up and concentrate on selling ice-cream.” She added she has been selling fruits since she was 20 years old. The business transition also coincided with the rise of the trend of bubble milk tea topped with gula apong icecream.

Bubble milk tea topped with gula apong ice-cream was an idea churned at their stall in the Waterfront, Kuching. It became a trend once it was released.

Today, IG Aiskrim has five branches around Kuching. “After I stopped selling fruits, I opened up stalls in E-mart Batu Kawa, Ecomall Samariang and Metrocity. And recently I opened IG’s latest branch — a dine-in ice-cream parlour at Satok.”

Proud of the hard work she had done, the business-minded Ennabell disclosed her long-time plans to open a store for dine-ins.

“We have planned for a store for a long time ago. We hope to be able to welcome diners to enjoy fresh servings of our desserts and snacks. At Satok, we also added more varieties than before.”

But as the workload grew, Ennabell’s challenges became more. “Initially, when I started selling gula apong ice-cream, there were any others selling it too. To me, it doesn’t matter, as long as I can improve or maintain the quality and standard.

“However, the challenge that stresses me today is the workforce. With five branches, it means I have to juggle my time between them. If it was not for this and the fact that we are a small team of two, then everything is fine, “ she said.

In the future, regulars of IG Aiskrim can look forward to special edition flavours. According to Ennabell, her current special flavour is Mango Sticky Rice icecream! “Previously, we even sold nasi lemak flavoured ice-cream. Even though many were scared to try them at first, there were many regulars too. I have customers coming in asking whether we have it or not.”

An ice-cream lover herself, Ennabell said that she would not introduce common flavours such as chocolate or strawberry. Rather, she would often devise unique flavours that could tickle the taste buds.

When asked for advice to give to small business owners wanting to grow big, Ennabell said, “Actually, if you want to do something, nobody can and should stop you. Everything you do is your choice. Just go ahead.”