Former Portsmouth Verrecchia's ice cream salesman opens up first Italian deli in the city

Alessandro Florio, 51, used to work for Verrecchia, based in Claybank Road, as an ice cream salesman.

Taking his van out and about, he became a well-known face in Portsmouth bringing ice-cold treats to thousands of youngsters during the 1990s.

Now, having purchased the old Verrecchia factory, he has opened an Italian deli on the same site – the first of its kind in the city.

Alessandro said: ‘It was years ago that I worked for them. I used to go out in the vans to the seafront, Emsworth, all over.

‘It was an Italian company and I’m Italian myself so it worked very well.

‘I wanted to carry on supplying food to the community and this was a great way to do it.’

Florios D’Italia opened on July 4, and the owner says business has been going well.