Plan to save the iconic ice cream nougat wafer 'from extinction'

A plan is in the works to save the iconic nougat wafer after it was announced that the last manufacturer of the delicacy in Scotland ceased production.

The last remaining supplier of the nougat and the beloved oyster wafer, Waverley Bakery in Glasgow, has stopped making them leaving ice cream parlours scrambling to find a new source.

A nougat is a wafer layered with marshmallow and coated in chocolate.

A single nougat is ice cream sandwiched between a single wafer and a chocolate-coated marshmallow wafer.

Dario Riccomini, managing director at Aldomak Confectionary, said the treat holds a special place in his heart and hopes they can save it. STV News

A double nougat has two chocolate-coated marshmallow wafers.

They’ve been staples on the menus of traditional ice cream parlours across central Scotland but last week STV News revealed their future was in jeopardy.

But now Scottish confectionary company Aldomak has stepped in to save the treat from “extinction”.

Having last made the nougat 20 years ago, managing director Dario Riccomini says the firm has the “expertise and passion” to revive the delicacy.

Dario Riccomini, managing director at Aldomak Confectionary, said the treat is worth saving. STV News

Aldomak said the treat holds a “special place” in Scotland’s culinary heritage, adding that its absence has left a “void in local businesses” and among Scots who hold fond memories of this delicacy.

Dario told STV News: “The way that we used to manufacture is no longer suitable for the modern manufacturing era.

The last remaining supplier of the nougat and the beloved oyster wafer Waverley Bakery stopped making them. STV News

“I think it’s worth saving. And I think we can really raise the quality levels and bring it back to what it used to be in the 70s and 80s.”

The company is seeking public support to secure the necessary funds to restart its nougat production and “ensure its legacy for future generations”.

The funding will go towards acquiring machinery essential for nougat production, sourcing ingredients, hiring people to oversee production and establishing a supply chain to deliver nougats across Scotland.

Pledges can be made on the Aldomak website. Pledges of £10 and up receive special rewards, including early access to the freshly made nougats and a tour of the production facility.

The company said public support is “crucial” in bringing back the delicacy, saying: “Together, we can ensure that this beloved treat continues to delight taste buds and evoke cherished memories across Scotland.

“Let’s save the nougat and preserve a piece of our heritage.”