Sheffield dessert parlour owner ‘confident’ his ice cream is the best in the city and a must-try

Treatz Dessert Parlour on London Road opened its doors in 2018 and boasts up to 60 tables for diners in need of a sweet treat in normal times.

While the pandemic has put a halt to that until at least 17 May, owners and cousins Ifraz Rahman and Shazad Ahmed have been flexible and introduced a takeaway and delivery service to ‘tick over and stay relevant’ with their customers.

Ifraz, 39, said: “We want to be recognised as a leading brand in Sheffield. We're very confident in our product.

"We want to be up there with the best, if not the best, in Sheffield.”

So, what separates Treatz from the rest in an increasingly crowded market?

"Our chocolate is imported from Belgium and our ice cream, I'm confident, is the best in Sheffield,” Ifraz, who hails from the city, added.

"Anyone that's tried us, it's rare that they don't come back.”

Treatz Sheffield is part of a national franchise which Ifraz, who was previously based in Berkshire, said is very popular in London and surrounding areas.

The menu features just about every indulgent dessert you can think of, from gooey cookie dough to ‘VIP’ milkshakes and American pancakes. Anyone feeling hungry?

Ifraz said: “We knew it was a strong brand and the quality of the product, compared to what was in Sheffield, was far superior.”

“It was on the up [before the pandemic].”

Like many businesses owners, however, Ifraz is worried the future post-lockdown may not be a piece of cake.

He said: "I think we will be OK but my concern is more long-term if people aren't going back to work and don't have money to spend, we are going to feel it.

"People like us who are more of a luxury than a necessity are going to feel it more. At the moment people have got spare cash because they have not really got anything to spend it on.”

Last month the National Institute of Economic and Social Research has predicted the economy will not fully recover from coronavirus until late 2023.