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SAUGUS, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Rising prices and supply issues are causing quite the brain freeze for some ice cream shop owners.
Soc's Ice Cream is a staple in Saugus, but patrons heading in to get some frozen treats as temperatures start to rise will be faced with a different menu. Co-owner Sharon Cacciola told WBZ's Karyn Regal the price of the mix that Soc's uses to make its ice cream has gone up over 36 percent for a five-gallon bag. This is combined with rising costs for other materials like spoons, cups, cones, and labor.
This meant to keep up, Soc's needed to raise its prices. Cacciola said they tried their best to look out for their customers when they raised prices.
"We did not increase 30 percent because we won't have a customer base anymore," Cacciola said. "If people are putting $75 to almost $100 in their gas tank, that's not going to leave the $25 to come get their little ice cream."
Besides rising prices, Soc's has also had to deal with supply issues. For instance, vanilla ice cream is now off the menu temporarily after a cyberattack shut down manufacturing at a Hood plant. A spokesperson with Hood said they expect to be back to normal production soon.
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Despite the issues, Cacciola said she is looking forward to serving the community.
"People want to feel good and they come here to get an ice cream," she said. "It's great to see the smile on people's faces."
WBZ's Karyn Regal (@Karynregal) reports.
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