Why are 99 ice creams called 99s?

Question

I thought it was because they used to be 99p but they couldn't have been because they are cheaper than that now!

Answer 1

hello shipmate

The origins of the name are uncertain. One claim is that the '99' was coined in Portobello, Scotland, in 1922, by the Arcari family, who owned a well known ice cream shop there. They sold ice-creams with half a large 'Flake' inserted in the top, and reputedly gave it the name simply because the shop was sited at 99 High Street. The idea spread locally, then further afield.

Another theory (put forward by a Cadbury's sales manager, but now proved to be unfounded) was that the name came from Italy: "In the days of the monarchy in Italy the King had a specially chosen guard consisting of 99 men (The Guard actually consisted of 110), and subsequently anything really special or first class was known as 99 — and that is how the 99 Flake came by its name". The Wordhunt initiative in 2005 found that the myth actually referred to the Vatican's Swiss Guard, which traditionally had 105 members, and now has 100.

Another explanation for the name could refer to the last wave of conscripts for the First World War having been born in 1899 and referred to as "i Ragazzi del 99" - the Boys of '99. They were held in such high esteem that there are even streets in Italy named in honour of them after the War. If the 99 was launched in 1928 then possibly this was the reason why ice cream sellers in the UK were attracted to the name. It could well be that the chocolate flake reminded Italian ice-cream sellers (many of whom hailed from mountainous areas in the Veneto, Trentino, Bellunese and Friuli) of the famed Alpine Regiments - the Alpini - who wear a long dark-coloured feather cocked at an angle on their helmets.


A plain chocolate 99 FlakeYet another ingenious suggestion is that the initials of "Ice Cream", IC, form the Roman numerals for 99 (being 100 - 1). In practice, the number 99 is not written like this but as XCIX (wafer, chocolate, ice cream, wafer?). It could, of course, be that the name was coined by someone who either did not know this or ignored it.

One more explanation suggests that the original length of the flake chocolate bar was 99mm.

And, finally, a company known as "Askey's" first established a cone called "99". As people ordered this, "99 with a flake" would have been shortened over the years to "99 flake".

The Cadbury's website says that the reason behind the Flake being called a 99 has been "lost in the mists of time".[1]

hope this answers your question

Answer 2

The origins of the name are uncertain. One claim is that the '99' was coined in Portobello, Scotland, in 1922, by the Arcari family, who owned a well known ice cream shop there. They sold ice-creams with half a large 'Flake' inserted in the top, and reputedly gave it the name simply because the shop was sited at 99 High Street. The idea spread locally, then further afield.

Another theory (put forward by a Cadbury's sales manager, but now proved to be unfounded) was that the name came from Italy: "In the days of the monarchy in Italy the King had a specially chosen guard consisting of 99 men (The Guard actually consisted of 110), and subsequently anything really special or first class was known as 99 — and that is how the 99 Flake came by its name". The Wordhunt initiative in 2005 found that the myth actually referred to the Vatican's Swiss Guard, which traditionally had 105 members, and now has 100.

Another explanation for the name could refer to the last wave of conscripts for the First World War having been born in 1899 and referred to as "i Ragazzi del 99" - the Boys of '99. They were held in such high esteem that there are even streets in Italy named in honour of them after the War. If the 99 was launched in 1928 then possibly this was the reason why ice cream sellers in the UK were attracted to the name. It could well be that the chocolate flake reminded Italian ice-cream sellers (many of whom hailed from mountainous areas in the Veneto, Trentino, Bellunese and Friuli) of the famed Alpine Regiments - the Alpini - who wear a long dark-coloured feather cocked at an angle on their helmets.


A plain chocolate 99 FlakeYet another ingenious suggestion is that the initials of "Ice Cream", IC, form the Roman numerals for 99 (being 100 - 1). In practice, the number 99 is not written like this but as XCIX (wafer, chocolate, ice cream, wafer?). It could, of course, be that the name was coined by someone who either did not know this or ignored it.

One more explanation suggests that the original length of the flake chocolate bar was 99mm.

And, finally, a company known as "Askey's" first established a cone called "99". As people ordered this, "99 with a flake" would have been shortened over the years to "99 flake".

The Cadbury's website says that the reason behind the Flake being called a 99 has been "lost in the mists of time".

Answer 3

From the Cadbury website
In the days of the monarchy in Italy the King had an elite guard consisting of 99 soldiers. Subsequently anything really special or first class was known as "99". When Cadbury launched its small Flake for ice creams in 1930, the UK ice cream industry was dominated by ex-pat Italians. So, to appeal to Italians we called our superb Flake a "99"

Answer 4

The 99 ice cream was launched in the 1930's. At this time much of the British ice cream industry was run by Italians (people close to our hearts) and it was they who chose the name for the 99. There was a legend that an Italian King had the very finest group of soldiers for his bodyguards - 99 of them in fact. This is why the number 99 represents quality.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-60684,00.html

Answer 5

It is actually because of the Flake used. Cadburys have a stock number for all their products and the stock code for the half flake used in a 99 is infact 99. simple as that!

Answer 6

The name 99 reminds me of to ice cream pops up right.

Answer 7

When I was a child my mother told me that they where called 99s after the street number of the shop where they were first sold and that it took of from there.

Answer 8

It was becuase they were 99p, but now they are £6.50 they just call them 99s anyway... To keep people knowing what they are... And it also depends on the size, one is like 98p, £2.45 and £like £6.50 lol

Answer 9

Well they have to be called something, so why not 99?

This question could be asked of every item.

Answer 10

good question,but its not because they were 99p ! when i was a kid they were 10p and still called 99s !