Ice cream vans aren’t just for serving up summer treats anymore. They’re also perfect for getting noticed, bringing people together, and creating memorable experiences. From eye-catching vehicle branding to creative sampling, we’ve seen some fantastic, branded ice cream van campaigns over the years.
So, we’ve rounded up a few of our favourites to show what’s possible when brands play on nostalgia and deliver experiential campaigns that go big on flavour and visual impact.
1. Kraken’s fishy twist on a true classic
Ice cream and seafood collided for one very unusual promotional campaign.
Kraken transformed a Bedford ice cream van for its Sea Scoops activation – featuring a bold black and white wrap along with its signature branding. An oversized tentacle and seafood cone roof prop turned heads, as the van toured from London to Brighton.
Visitors could choose from unusual flavours and toppings that put a savoury spin on the traditional scoop. This experiential campaign was a social media monster, with almost 3 million video views and 40 press articles over just a short campaign.
See how to elevate your ice cream campaign if you’d like to share in their success!
2. StudioCanal’s horror story on wheels
This classic Bedford got a chilling makeover in time for a London film premiere.
With a bespoke blood-splattered wrap and creepy character standees and an ominous version of the familiar jingle, this vehicle was on its way to being one of the scariest yet. After visiting several locations for content capture, the van arrived at the Soho Hotel, where guests could enjoy artisan soft serve with a choice of toppings and sauces.
It shows how one of the oldest ice cream vans in our fleet can be turned into a fun talking point – delivering more than just nostalgia. Want to know more about the classic vehicle behind this campaign? See a brief history of Britain’s ice cream vans for info.
3. McCain serves a sweet and salty surprise
McCain replaced the classic flake with chips for a very different kind of experience.
Part of a two-week brand activation, this ice cream van hit the beaches of Brighton and Newquay to try a sweet-and-salty combination. A replica cone mounted on the roof drew in the crowds, while the setup featured an air fryer and ice cream maker capable of producing up to 70 soft serves an hour – all powered by a lithium battery system.
This idea tapped into a growing appetite for unusual flavour combinations, with McCain research finding that almost one in four Brits would happily dip their chips in ice cream.
If you’re looking for serving ideas, explore: From Classic Whips to Artisan Scoops.
4. Netflix delivers a taste of fantasy
Magic, monsters, and custom ice cream made this classic van one to remember.
Netflix wanted one of our classic ice cream vans to act as the heart of an experiential campaign, in time to promote season 3 of the TV show. Realistic 3D chains and a supersized Witcher roof medallion commanded attention, but the real surprise was inside the serving hatch.
Guests could try a bespoke Mr Whippy black ice cream cone, topped with candy floss, colourful sprinkles and a blood-red sauce. This van enjoyed a five-week tour across the UK, from London to Glasgow and beyond, and even won Bronze for ‘most immersive event’ at the FMBE Awards!
Check out The Witcher’s branded ice cream van case study for the full scoop.
5. Tesco Mobile freezes SIM plans
A frosty chill hit London as Tesco Mobile created a winter-themed setting.
Starting strong with one of our Ford Transit ice cream vans (a 90s favourite), Tesco hit King’s Cross Station to promote the launch of their frozen SIM plans. Up to 500 guests stopped by to find out more about the latest contracts and enjoy a free frozen yoghurt.
With a custom roof sign and frozen effects across the vehicle, plus promotional staff, branded tubs and an iceberg surround, this activation became a true 'brand takeover'.
It’s proof that great props and creative theming can help take a promotional campaign well beyond the vehicle itself. Discover the 3D event props and extras that could enhance your activation!
6. Rentokil’s creepy crawly ice cream van
The pest control firm served a surprise treat from its ‘Rent A Kill’ van.
Our Ford Transit was given a colourful makeover with a custom wrap, featuring scattered creepy crawlies to grab attention. Passing some of London’s best-known landmarks, including the London Eye and Big Ben, it stopped for a sampling event where guests could try soft-scoop ice cream with actual candied bugs for toppings.
Inside, a built-in chest freezer kept the creepy stock frozen and ready to serve – all for an unexpected take on a summer favourite. It’s an odd pairing, but one that worked surprisingly well. See how sampling could boost your next activation in a similar way.
7. L'Oréal Paris puts the cherry on top
Because branded ice cream vans are great for beauty launches, too!
L'Oréal Paris took product sampling in a fun direction with a cherry-themed, branded ice cream van celebrating their Cherry Edition Setting Mist. This experiential campaign also featured props to support the cherry theme, while giving guests a welcoming space to grab a cherry-flavoured scoop.
By pairing sampling with such a playful setup, the activation gave the brand another way to connect with its audience beyond the beauty counter, then share the experience on social media.
If you’re at the early stages of planning and would like to achieve something similar, discover how to make your beauty campaign a social media success.
8. Hello Nancy creates an ice cream DJ booth
A classic Bedford became a moving DJ booth for the brand’s awareness campaign.
Wrapped in bright summer colours with vibrant branding and a matching bespoke roof sign, this was one of those ice cream vans that couldn’t be ignored. In fact, it was the centrepiece for a lively weekend thanks to its unique music space.
The van parked up at various city hotspots and put on musical moments, while gifts were handed to the crowds. It brought music, drinks, and goodie bags together – with over 1,000 gifts handed out across the two-day activation.
Feeling inspired? Learn how you could supercharge your next activation.
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From serving unexpected flavours to creating mobile DJ booths and mini winter wonderlands, these campaigns show just how effective branded ice cream vans can be.
If you’re thinking about these vehicles for your next promotional campaign, we have you covered. Explore our complete guide to ice cream van hire to learn more, and use our pricing calculator to get a free, on-screen estimate and start planning your budget.
Together, we can whip up an experience that your audience will love!
