Ice cream can be produced both on an artisan level and on an industrial level (in series); the latter is widespread especially in the most developed areas of the planet. Ice cream can be purchased in large packs (tanks or cartons) in wholesale centers or supermarkets, or in smaller quantities in ice cream parlors, grocery stores and bars, or in individual portions inside kiosks and vans.
Today, ice cream sales represent a branch of work specialization. The title of the professional who carries out this activity is "ice cream maker", in English "ice cream man" (the word "ice cream girl" does not exist, but women are still involved in the activity even in Anglo-Saxon countries).
In the world, retail sales mainly involve the maritime environment, fairs and public winds; in Italy, on the other hand, thanks to the specific gastronomic culture of ice cream, this can be purchased almost at every street corner. The so-called "packaged" ice cream is ready-to-eat and wrapped individually; the one called "loose" instead, must be assembled on the moment according to the dimensions and tastes desired / offered. "Loose" is not synonymous with "artisanal" and, for the most part, it is bought by the distributors (especially by the bartenders) in the trays to be put on display inside the showcase fridges. Furthermore, "artisanal" is not synonymous with "high quality"; in fact, many distributors use powder preparations to be mixed only with water inside professional ice cream makers. Then there is the "soft" ice cream, the one supplied by an automatic machine (which uses the gas pressures inside it), which can be activated by means of a lever tap. For some years a type of soft cartridge ice cream has also been distributed; this involved the extrusion of the ice cream from the small hermetic single-portion containers (in the wafer cones) thanks to a manual tool.
On American beaches, ice cream is typically sold by ice cream makers carrying a small shoulder bag or carrying a cowbell cart (a reminder to users).
In Turkey and Australia, ice cream is sometimes sold to bathers by small motor boats equipped with freezers.
Some ice cream distributors are itinerant and sell their products in the street, thanks to refrigerated vans or trolleys (typical of the United States known as "ice cream trucks") often equipped with loudspeakers that reproduce music for children (cartoons) or similar) or a jingle called "Ice Cream", by Andre Nickatina. The driver of the van or trolley stops from time to time, generally at each block and the relationship with the customers is made thanks to a large opening, through which you order, receive and pay.
In the United Kingdom, ice cream vans reproduce a carillon melody, rather than an actual musical track.
In Italy, the itinerant ice cream maker system is less used. The carts and shacks (once, even adapted mopeds) are much used on the beach, but they offer more than anything granita and pieces of fresh coconut. As for the sale of ice cream from vans instead, it is almost insignificant.
