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Lo & Hugo – by Ijstijd
One family.
One passion.
Since 1996.
What began as a dream by Sabine and Kevin in the heart of Bruges has grown into an artisanal ice cream brand with heart and soul — today carried forward by the second generation from Oudenburg.
The beginning
Creating something real.
Something of their own.
The story of Lo & Hugo begins in 1988, in the heart of Bruges. Sabine and Kevin ran a tearoom-restaurant there. From that kitchen, they started making their own ice cream — and soon other hospitality clients discovered what they had on their hands.
What started as a passion project grew — through a love of purity, taste and craftsmanship — into an independent brand. Production and the company are now based in Oudenburg, but the roots lie in that Bruges kitchen where it all began.
Today, Laurence and Hugues carry that story forward. Lo & Hugo — that is them. Not a marketing name, but a family name. A promise fulfilled every single day.
Our evolution
Thirty years of growth
& craftsmanship
1988
A hospitality story in the heart of Bruges
Sabine and Kevin open a tearoom-restaurant in Bruges. A business driven by a passion for gastronomy, hospitality and quality. This is where the seeds are sown for what would later became Ijstijd.
Late '90s — 1996
From kitchen to brand: Ijstijd is born
From the kitchen of their restaurant, Sabine and Kevin begin making their own ice cream. Other foodservice businesses quickly discoverd the quality — and demand started growing. They let go of the restaurant and focus entirely on ice cream in 1996 . Under the name Ijstijd, a new story began.
Late 1990s – early 2000s
First growth through hospitality across Flanders
The hospitality channel grows steadily. Restaurants and ice cream parlours across Flanders discover the quality of the ice cream. The direct delivery model — personal contact, reliable service — becomes the backbone of the business.
2014
Expansion to French-speaking Belgium & the name Lo & Hugo
French-speaking foodservice clients join the customer base. To serve them well, the brand receives a second name: Lo & Hugo — a reference to the family's children, then still teenagers. The name works bilingually, but also immediately tells a family story.
From 2020
Acceleration into retail
The focus shifts to retail: a deliberate choice to reach more consumers directly and anchor the brand name. First locally along the coast, then increasingly towards Antwerp and Brussels.
Early 2026
Full rebrand to Lo & Hugo
Ijstijd evolves into Lo & Hugo as the sole brand name. A logical step: less confusion for customers, and a name that puts the family story front and centre now that Laurence and Hugues carry the business forward. New packaging rolls out flavour by flavour.
Within the year
IFS Food certification
Our quality standards are not just an internal promise. They are being externally validated via IFS Food — an internationally recognised standard for food safety, hygiene and traceability from raw material to finished product. An attestation of our ongoing procedure is available on request.
→ In trajectWhat we stand for
Our values
Craft before
scale
Every recipe starts with the finest local ingredients. We produce with full control over every stage — from raw materials to the point of sale. Growth must never come at the expense of quality.
Honesty in
every tub
No hidden ingredients, no misleading claims. What is on the label is in the tub. Our low-sugar variants are genuinely low in sugar. Our sorbets are genuinely vegan. Transparency is not a marketing choice — it is a matter of principle.
True to
our roots
Family-run, West Flemish, independent. No external pressure, no compromises on quality. That freedom allows us to always make the right choice — not the easiest one.
Quality assurance
Quality you can
trust
Craftsmanship is not proved with fine words, but with measurable standards. Our production meets strict internal quality standards, and we actively invest in recognised certifications that confirm this externally.
We are preparing for IFS Food certification — an internationally recognised food safety standard that formally validates our processes, hygiene and traceability. An attestation of our ongoing procedure is available on request for professional partners.
IFS Food Certification
International food safety standard that validates our processes, hygiene standards and traceability — from raw material to finished product.
→ IN PREPARATION · EXPECTED WITHIN THE YEARFrom ingredient to tub
Conscious choices.
At every level.
Quality does not stop at the recipe. It begins with the ingredients we choose, the standards we set ourselves, and the honesty with which we communicate what is in every tub — and what is not.
Straight from the source
We know where it comes from.
Every recipe starts with the ingredient. Not with a catalogue, not with a price comparison — but with the question: where do we find the best quality? That principle has guided every choice we make for over 25 years.
Whole farm milk
West Flanders, Belgium
Our milk comes from local farmers in West Flanders — literally just around the corner. Whole farm milk, no skimmed powder or substitutes. That choice makes the difference in creaminess and flavour, and keeps the supply chain short and transparent.
Bourbon Madagascar vanilla
Madagascar
The name "Bourbon" refers to vanilla pods from a select group of islands in the Indian Ocean. We source exclusively from Madagascar — where the climate and soil conditions produce the richest, most complex aroma.
Belgian chocolate
Belgium
Our chocolate is 100% Belgian — from the finest chocolatiers in the world. Short supply lines, consistent quality, and a flavour profile that pairs perfectly with artisanal ice cream.
Low-sugar range
Less sugar. The same taste.
Our low-sugar range contains less than 5 grams of sugar per 100 grams. But less sugar does not mean a compromise on taste.
How we do it
Using natural sweeteners including Stevia, we maintain the sweet, creamy taste. We do not use dairy substitutes — our low-sugar flavours are made with the same whole farm milk from local West Flemish farmers as our classic range.
Why not zero?
Real milk naturally contains lactose — a milk sugar — and we do not replace that milk with artificial alternatives. The result: a low-sugar product that is honest about what it contains, with no hidden substitutes.
Our low-sugar product line is regularly tested by independent laboratories. Less than 5g of sugar per 100g · sweetened with Stevia.
Plant-based & fat free
Pure fruit. Nothing more.
Our sorbets are naturally 100% plant-based, lactose-free and fat-free — not because we are following a trend, but because that is how sorbet is meant to be. No dairy substitutes, no artificial flavourings, no added fats.
40%+
Fruit content
Each of our sorbets contains more than 40% fruit. What you taste is the pure fruit — not a flavouring that imitates it.
0
Artificial flavourings
No flavourings, no colourings, no flavour enhancers. Our sorbets taste of real fruit — not an approximation.
100%
Plant-based & vegan
Naturally suited to a plant-based diet — without us having to change anything in the original recipe.
Our standards
Quality you don't have to take on faith.
It is verified.
Our production meets strict internal standards — and we have them externally validated as well. IFS Food certification is not mandatory for Belgian food producers. It is a standard we set for ourselves, because credible quality requires independent confirmation.
Independent audits
IFS Food is an internationally recognised standard for food safety and quality, required by most major retailers in Europe. We are fully engaged in the formal certification process — expected within the year.
Control at every level
Every production run goes through dozens of checks — from temperature measurements at every stage to hygiene inspections and finished product analyses. Every ingredient, however small, is fully traceable back to its origin.
From production to delivery
Quality control does not stop at the production door. Our cold chain is monitored from the moment the ice cream leaves the machine until it arrives in the customer's freezer. Every link in the chain is tracked.
Discover more
Taste the
difference yourself
Curious about our range or looking for a stockist near you? We would be happy to tell you more.
With heart and soul. Since 1996.