May 18th 2024.
Marnie, an eight-year-old girl, was recently taken aback by the exorbitant price of two screwball ice creams in Burnley. In fact, her reaction to the steep cost has made her a viral sensation on TikTok. Standing next to her identical twin sister Mylah in Burnley, Lancashire, Marnie boldly declares that the ice cream seller "is going to get nowhere" with such high prices. She goes on to tell their aunt Karis Lambert, who is recording the moment, "So, there's an ice cream van there selling two ice creams with two chewing gums in it for bloody nine pounds." In disbelief, she adds that in her own street, you can buy an ice cream for only £1 or £2 each. But it's not just the price that has Marnie astounded; she's also shocked that the seller only accepts card payments. With a strong Burnley accent, she exclaims, "Stood there with my cash – bloody hell." Karis sympathizes, saying, "That's well bad, innit?" Marnie agrees and adds, "I bet he can hear me," as she and her sister walk away.
The video, which was filmed in Towneley Park, has since gained 1.9 million views on TikTok and over 30,000 comments, with many finding Marnie's reaction hilarious. Some viewers even agree that the ice creams are indeed on the expensive side. One commenter, Lily, writes, "I'm with her on this, I wouldn't stand for £9 either," to which Karis responds, "When it came to £9 on the screen, I asked her if she really wanted it. She said, 'Not for that price, no. I'll just get one out of the freezer when I get home,'" followed by two crying laughing emojis. Many of the comments also mention how much they love Marnie's accent, while others point out that the twins resemble Harry Potter star Emma Watson.
In an interview with the Lancashire Post, Karis reveals that Marnie was genuinely upset and wanted to express her frustration on TikTok, which ultimately led to the video going viral. When asked about the girls, she shares, "They are a bit like Ant and Dec. Marnie speaks her mind, whereas Mylah can sometimes be a little bit quieter, but she's the one who always comes out with the best one-liners."
Although the video was intended as a lighthearted moment, it has left some ice cream sellers feeling disheartened. According to the Guardian, John Taylor, whose C&M Ices van was named "mobiler of the year 2023," explains that rising costs have greatly affected ice cream van owners, forcing them to increase their prices. He shares, "It's not just our industry. Every industry is in the same boat. The problem is everybody perceives us as a cheap product." John adds that people are willing to pay four pounds for a lukewarm Starbucks coffee but won't pay a couple of pounds for a high-quality ice cream. He also mentions the various costs that have led to double-digit price increases for several years, such as diesel, electricity, insurance, pitch fees, and wages. Unlike supermarkets, ice cream van owners do not have the purchasing power to buy in bulk and get discounts. John clarifies that while £4.50 for a screwball ice cream may seem expensive, it's not "unreasonable" given the market's current state.
Interestingly, the "99 Flake" ice cream, often assumed to have been named after its 99p price tag, was actually named after the address of the company's former factory, 99 Portobello Road. This bit of trivia was revealed in a previous article that explored the origins of the famous ice cream.
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