From Scoop to Success: The Sweet Rise of Hico Ice Cream

Posted June 18, 2025

Introduction

Since its founding in 1952, Hico Ice Cream has grown from a small tricycle vending operation to one of Pakistan’s most recognizable ice cream brands, available in 10,000+ outlets across the country. This remarkable journey of success, which began with a simple jingle that caught the attention of children and adults alike, has been marked by steady innovation and commitment to quality.

With its industrialization in the early 2000s, the company shifted from small-scale distribution via hawkers to large-scale retail operations. As the demand for Hico’s dairy ice cream skyrocketed, the need for efficient operations became even more pressing. To manage this growth and ensure top-quality service, Hico adopted Oscar POS, an all-in-one Point of Sale system. This decision transformed their sales, inventory management, and customer engagement processes, driving the company’s growth even further.

In this blog, we’ll explore how Oscar POS helped Hico Ice Cream streamline their operations and how this POS system can help businesses in the food and beverage industry, from ice cream shops to restaurants, manage their operations efficiently.

Hico Ice Cream: From Scoop to Success

Hico Ice Cream began its journey in 1952 as Pakistan’s first ice cream company. The operation was small, relying on hawkers on tricycles to distribute ice cream throughout Lahore. The company’s iconic jingle became synonymous with sweet treats, attracting both children and adults to enjoy what was, at the time, the only ice cream available in Pakistan.

Hico’s Heritage
In the early 2000s, Hico shifted focus from hawker-based distribution to selling directly through retail outlets, marking the beginning of its industrialization. This transition was accompanied by a massive increase in demand. To meet this demand, Hico overhauled its supply chain, replacing small batch production with more efficient continuous production processes.

Warehouses and distribution hubs were set up in major cities.
Refrigerated reefer vans were introduced to ensure that the ice cream stayed at the optimal temperature throughout its journey from the factory to the retail outlet.

Today, Hico boasts a production capacity of over 100,000 liters per day and is available in over 10,000 outlets across Pakistan. Despite its vast scale, the company remains committed to producing the best quality dairy ice cream in the country.

Oscar POS: The Key to Streamlining Operations for Hico Ice Cream

As Hico Ice Cream grew, managing operations became increasingly complex. The company needed a centralized system to handle sales, inventory, and customer data effectively. This is where Oscar POS came into play. Here’s how it streamlined Hico’s operations:

1. Streamlined Sales and Order Management
Oscar POS simplified order processing, allowing Hico to quickly process orders from retail outlets, track sales data, and generate receipts with ease.

Real-time sales tracking allowed Hico to monitor customer preferences and identify popular ice cream flavors.
The POS system also enabled multiple payment methods, allowing customers to pay via cash, card, or mobile wallet, enhancing the overall customer experience.

2. Real-Time Inventory Management
As Hico expanded, keeping track of its vast inventory became crucial.

Oscar POS helped the company track inventory levels in real-time, ensuring they were never understocked or overstocked.
With automated low stock alerts, Hico could reorder popular ice cream flavors and ingredients on time, preventing stockouts and minimizing wastage.

3. Enhanced Supplier and Distribution Management
Oscar POS enabled Hico to track inventory across various locations, ensuring that its warehouses and distribution hubs were always stocked with the necessary ice cream varieties.

Real-time data synchronization between multiple locations and warehouses allowed for better stock management and faster replenishment.
The system also allowed for easy tracking of order deliveries, helping Hico ensure that its refrigerated vans delivered products on time and in optimal condition.

4. Efficient Customer Management with CRM
Oscar POS’s CRM features allowed Hico to create detailed customer profiles and track their purchase history.

With this data, Hico could send personalized promotions to customers, such as discounts on their favorite flavors or special offers for loyal customers.
This helped boost customer loyalty and drive repeat business, a key factor in maintaining a competitive edge in the ice cream market.

5. Detailed Analytics and Reporting
Oscar POS generated comprehensive sales reports and inventory reports that provided Hico with actionable insights into their business performance.

These reports helped identify sales trends, peak business hours, and which products were in high demand, enabling Hico to make data-driven decisions to further optimize their operations.

Why Oscar POS is Perfect for Ice Cream Businesses

Intuitive and Easy to Use: With a user-friendly interface, Oscar POS requires minimal training, ensuring that Hico’s staff could quickly adapt to the system.
Real-Time Data Access: Oscar POS enables businesses to access real-time data, whether at the point of sale, in the warehouse, or remotely.
Multi-Location Support: Whether you have one ice cream shop or multiple distribution hubs, Oscar POS can manage operations seamlessly across all locations.
Comprehensive Customer Insights: With the CRM integration, businesses can track customer data, enhance customer experience, and implement targeted promotions.

How Oscar POS Can Help Your Ice Cream Business

Oscar POS is not just for ice cream brands like Hico—it’s the ideal solution for any food and beverage business. Here’s how to get started:

Sign Up for Oscar POS: Visit Oscar.pk to request a demo and choose the plan that fits your ice cream shop’s needs.
Set Up Your Products and Inventory: Input your ice cream varieties, pricing, and inventory levels into the system.
Start Managing Sales and Orders: Begin using Oscar POS to streamline your sales, inventory, and order management processes.
Generate Reports: Use sales and inventory reports to track performance, optimize stock levels, and make data-driven business decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: How does Oscar POS help ice cream businesses manage inventory?
A1: Oscar POS tracks real-time inventory levels, provides low-stock alerts, and allows businesses to generate inventory reports, ensuring products are always available and fresh.

Q2: Can Oscar POS help manage multiple ice cream shop locations?
A2: Yes, Oscar POS supports multi-location management, allowing ice cream businesses to monitor and track sales and inventory across various branches or distribution hubs.

Q3: How does Oscar POS improve customer engagement?
A3: Oscar POS stores customer profiles, tracks purchase history, and allows businesses to send personalized promotions and loyalty rewards, improving customer retention.

Q4: Can Oscar POS handle promotions and discounts?
A4: Yes, Oscar POS allows businesses to run customizable promotions and apply discounts directly at checkout, making it easy to attract customers and drive sales.

Q5: Does Oscar POS integrate with other systems?
A5: Yes, Oscar POS integrates with accounting software and other tools, ensuring smooth operations and accurate financial tracking.

Conclusion

Oscar POS has played a pivotal role in helping Hico Ice Cream streamline its operations, manage inventory, and improve sales tracking. Whether you’re running a small ice cream shop or a large-scale business, Oscar POS can help you optimize operations, increase profits, and deliver excellent customer service.

Visit Oscar.pk today to learn how Oscar POS can revolutionize your ice cream business!

Book a free demo today