Overview
Milkshake Madness is an established mobile dessert business based in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, and now offered for sale as the owner pursues a non-related business interest. Successfully trading since 2020 and operated through a limited company, the business has been built around a genuinely one-of-a-kind, purpose-built Mercedes Sprinter, brought to its current fully fitted, turnkey standard through significant investment. The business has developed a strong local reputation, an established online presence and a loyal customer following, and holds a five-star food hygiene rating. The sale is of the business and its assets only; the limited company itself is not included.
The van is the standout feature of the opportunity. Equipped with a high-spec Victron electrical system that powers everything on board, it operates as a fully self-contained trading unit, free from reliance on external mains hook-ups. Combined with the street trading licences currently held, this gives the business an unusual degree of flexibility in where and how it trades.
For a hands-on operator or entrepreneur, this is a rare chance to step into a distinctive, ready-to-trade mobile business without the time, cost and uncertainty of building a bespoke setup from scratch.
Business Highlights
- Established and successfully trading since 2020
- Oneofakind, purposebuilt Mercedes Sprinter mobile dessert van, conversion completed in April 2025
- Highspec Victron offgrid electrical system powering the entire operation, fully selfcontained
- Fivestar food hygiene rating
- Street trading licences currently held
- Business name, branding, website, ordering app and social media included in the sale
- Turnkey standard, ready for a new owner to trade from day one
The Business
Milkshake Madness trades as a mobile dessert business, serving customers directly from its bespoke van. The business has traded through regular community routes, public events, private bookings, schools, businesses, football clubs and holiday parks. The street trading licences currently held provide an established framework for the operation, and the self-contained power setup means the business can trade without depending on the facilities of any one location, a practical advantage that many mobile caterers do not enjoy. Please note that the street trading licences and food hygiene rating relate to the current operator and do not automatically transfer to a buyer; the position will be confirmed during the sale process.
The van was purpose-built as a professional mobile dessert van, professionally fitted throughout, with a full conversion completed in April 2025. It is fully self-contained, with a 100-litre fresh-water capacity and a 100-litre wastewater tank, a tannoy system, and gas and electrical certification, and is supplied with an extensive range of professional catering equipment including a Carpigiani soft-serve ice cream machine, a professional Belgian gas waffle machine imported from Belgium, a waffle stick machine, a commercial blender, fridges and a Grafter electronic till system. The sale includes the fully equipped van, the Milkshake Madness business name and branding, established social media accounts, the customer ordering app and the business website.
Location
The business is based in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. As a fully mobile operation, it is not tied to a single fixed pitch, and its self-contained setup allows it to trade across a range of locations, with its home base providing a convenient point from which to operate.
Premises & Tenure
Milkshake Madness operates from its fully fitted mobile catering van rather than fixed premises, meaning a buyer is not taking on the commitments of a leasehold or freehold shop unit. The van itself is presented to a high, turnkey standard following significant investment in its conversion and equipment, and carries an MOT until April 2027.
Financial Overview
Headline trading figures are not published in this advert and will be made available to seriously interested parties.
- Approximately £65,000 invested in the van's conversion, equipment and power system
- Detailed financial information available to serious buyers on request as part of the sale process
Growth Potential
The business offers considerable scope for continued development:
- Expand the existing routes and increase private and corporate bookings
- Attend more festivals and events, or take the established concept into new geographical areas
- The website, ordering app and established social media following provide the foundations for further marketing and expansion
- The selfcontained Victron power setup removes reliance on mains hookups, widening the range of venues at which the van can trade
- The turnkey standard of the setup means a new owner's energy can go into growth rather than fitout
Reason for Sale
The business is being sold because the owner is pursuing a non-related business interest. This presents a genuine opportunity for a motivated new owner.
Next Steps
This is a distinctive opportunity to acquire an established, fully fitted mobile dessert business with a genuine point of difference. Further information and photographs are available to serious prospective buyers. Early enquiries are encouraged. Full details are available in the Information Memorandum.
