Heatwave brings boom and challenges for Greek ice cube maker

As a sweltering heatwave struck the Greek capital for a third day on Wednesday (July 22), one company was hustling to make deliveries.

For the ‘Blue Ice’ ice cube company, the summer, and especially during heatwaves, is the busiest time of the year.

Although the hot weather may seem like a blessing for an ice cube company, with demand skyrocketing, it is also one of the most challenging times for them, said owner Kostas Christopoulos.

“We are glad when its hot, but not too hot,” he said as a factory ice machine spewed out the frozen cubes to be packaged.

“You know a heatwave for us is not, as expected, a party day. It’s not something that we say that it is something we dream about, it’s the opposite, everything gets more difficult, everybody needs the ice immediately, ” he added.

The company distributes ice cubes across the country to grocery stores, businesses, restaurants, cafes, and for concerts and other public events, serving an average of some 5,000 customers, it said. 

At least 10 tonnes of ice cubes are produced a day in a regular summer, at least five times more than is produced in the winter. In a heatwave, demand can triple.

“It gets a little crazy,” said Christopoulos. “Everybody is in a hurry. First all you have to be calm to handle all this.”

With clients wanting their bags of ice twice as fast, the company will put on extra vehicles and employees to handle demand, while hoping there won’t be snarling traffic in the busy city for the refrigerated trucks to snake through.

“(We) have to adapt every time,” he said.

Greece experienced its third day of extreme heat on Wednesday, with temperatures expected to climb to 42 degrees Celsius in the country.

Authorities had banned outdoor work during peak times around midday and advised residents to stay indoors.

The fire brigade was also on high alert for blazes under the tinderbox conditions.

Meteorologists said the heatwave will subside on Thursday (July 23).

Camera, editing: Stamos Prousalis, Production, writing: Deborah Kyvrikosaios/Reuters