A bold Peckham gelato brand that started as a side hustle has earned one of the food industry’s highest honours, just over a year after launching.
&Chill, founded by Nunhead-based Larissa Stange, has won a 1-star award at the Great Taste Awards 2025, the world’s most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme.
The award went to &Chill’s daring Umami Stout Caramel Gelato, made with Guinness and Marmite – “you either hate it or love it, just like Marmite,” Larissa said.
The recognition comes as 14,340 entries from 110 countries were blind-tasted over 110 days by a panel of over 500 industry experts.
Just 945 of London’s 2,695 entries received stars – putting &Chill’s win in elite company.
For Larissa, originally from Germany and now living in Nunhead, the accolade is more than just validation – it’s a milestone in a journey that began with curiosity and a love of flavour.
She told the News Shopper: “I always wanted to break into the gelato business.
“It was always a hobby of mine and my friends would eat lots of it and encouraged me to start a business.”
That encouragement turned into action when her boyfriend bought her a course in how to make gelato – a gift that would spark the creation of &Chill in early 2024.
At the time, Larissa was working in fashion and launching the business as a side project.
She explained: “After some changes with the recession, I decided to focus on this full time as it was something I always wanted to do.”
“It wasn’t easy – I don’t have a background in food.”
But joining Michelin Kitchen, a co-working food production space in Nine Elms, gave her both a place to work and a community of other start-ups to learn from.
“It’s been a massive help and everything else I have learnt from doing myself”, Larissa added.
&Chill’s ethos is all about turning gelato into more than just a scoop in a cone.
Larissa said: “We’re all about indulgence, and like to mix up flavours that don’t play it safe – a whole dessert experience.”
That adventurous spirit is clear in every corner of the business, which now includes a production kitchen in Nine Elms, a store in east London, and a strong presence in independent retailers – including Nunhead’s own Nissa, which stocks her full range.
The flavours reflect Larissa’s playful but precise style.
There’s the popular Salted Brown Butter and Choco Crisp, which she designed after noticing that traditional cones kept breaking.
“It’s quite salty but balanced with sweetness and the dark chocolate,” she explained.
Then there’s the gelato sandwich, inspired by a Southeast Asian dessert, featuring pandan sweet bean paste and coconut palm sugar.
And of course, the award-winning Umami Stout Caramel, which stood out for its bold balance and unexpected depth.
Larissa admitted building a customer base has taken time – but said she’s now seeing more and more regulars and is ready to take the business to the next level.
She said: “I’m going to focus on growing my store and building my customer base,”
“It takes a while to get recognised.”
When she first started last year, &Chill launched as a small pop-up at Peckham Arches.
“It was quite small but great to get experience,” she said. “It helped me build the brand to sell to retailers.”
Now with her own space, a growing menu that includes sundaes and alcoholic slushies, and one of the most respected awards in food and drink under her belt, Larissa is hungry for more.
She added: “My favourite thing about owning the business is eating lots of food.”
“We’re a gelato brand that is all about a range of flavours.
“Our ethos is we create not just gelato but a whole dessert experience.
“It’s all about going crazy with flavours and combinations.”
