How a Local Café Increased Profits with Soft Serve & Milkshake Machines

For many cafés, increasing profits doesn’t always mean increasing footfall. Sometimes, it’s about maximising the value of each customer visit.

We recently worked with a local café that wanted to boost revenue without expanding its premises or hiring additional staff. Their solution? Introducing a commercial soft serve machine and a high-performance milkshake machine.

The result was a simple but powerful shift in their menu — and a noticeable increase in average transaction value.

Here’s how they did it. 

The Challenge: Limited Space, Seasonal Sales

Like many independent cafés, this business faced a few common challenges: 

• Strong morning trade, quieter afternoons
• Limited floor and kitchen space
• Heavy reliance on coffee and traybakes
• Seasonal fluctuations in dessert sales

They wanted to: 

• Attract younger customers
• Increase afternoon sales
• Introduce higher-margin menu items
• Offer something visually appealing and different

Instead of expanding their kitchen, they looked at high-margin, compact equipment solutions. 

The Solution: Soft Serve & Milkshake Machines

After reviewing available space and power supply, we recommended: 

• A compact commercial soft serve machine
• A professional milkshake machine suitable for high-volume use

Both units were selected for: 

• Efficiency
• Ease of cleaning
• Reliability during peak service
• Small footprint to suit their layout

This allowed the café to introduce a dessert and drinks upsell menu without disrupting their core operations. 

Why Soft Serve Works for Profit

Soft serve is one of the highest-margin products in hospitality.

The benefits include:

✅ Low Ingredient Cost

The base mix offers excellent yield per batch.

✅ High Perceived Value

Customers are happy to pay a premium for toppings, sauces, or specialty flavours.

✅ Fast Service

Soft serve machines are quick to operate, meaning minimal staff training is required.

✅ Year-Round Sales

While often seen as seasonal, many cafés successfully sell soft serve with waffles, brownies, cookie dough, or hot desserts during colder months.

The café introduced: 

• Classic cones
• Sundaes with premium toppings
• “Dessert combos” paired with brownies or waffles

This immediately increased their average spend per table. 

Why Milkshakes Are a Revenue Booster

Milkshakes appeal to a wide demographic — families, teenagers, and even adults looking for indulgent treats.

The café used their milkshake machine to create: 

• Classic flavours (chocolate, vanilla, strawberry)
• Premium options with branded sauces
• Protein-enhanced shakes
• Limited-edition seasonal flavours

They quickly discovered that milkshakes were frequently added to existing orders — particularly alongside sandwiches and light lunches.

This meant: 

• No extra marketing spend
• No change in customer numbers
• Simply higher order values

The Numbers: Small Additions, Big Impact

While every business is different, the café reported: 

• Increased afternoon footfall
• Higher average transaction value
• Strong weekend family trade
• A noticeable boost in social media engagement

Visually appealing desserts encouraged customers to share photos online, generating organic exposure for the business.

More importantly, both machines paid for themselves faster than expected due to strong margins and steady demand. 

The Equipment Behind the Success

Reliable equipment was critical to maintaining consistency and speed.

Here’s why choosing commercial-grade machines matters:

Consistency

Texture and temperature must remain stable during busy periods.

Efficiency

Energy-efficient machines reduce running costs.

Hygiene & Easy Cleaning

Fast cleaning cycles reduce downtime and keep operations smooth.

Reliability

Breakdowns during peak service can damage reputation and revenue.

At DS Refrigeration, we don’t just supply equipment — we help businesses choose machines suited to their space, output requirements, and customer base.

Could This Work for Your Business?

Soft serve and milkshakes aren’t just for dessert parlours. They work extremely well in: 

• Cafés
• Restaurants
• Bars
• Hotels
• Garden centres
• Retail food outlets

If you already have steady footfall, introducing high-margin add-ons can significantly improve profitability without major renovation or expansion.

The key is selecting the right machine for your capacity and ensuring it integrates smoothly into your workflow. 

Ready to Increase Your Profits?

If you’re considering adding soft serve or milkshakes to your menu, our team can advise on: 

• Machine size and capacity
• Power requirements
• Space planning
• Installation
• Ongoing maintenance

We supply, install, and maintain commercial soft serve and milkshake machines across Northern Ireland and beyond. 

👉 Call 028 3751 1425 to speak to our team
👉 Or click here to explore our range

A small addition to your menu could make a big difference to your bottom line.