A dispute over the procedure for permitting ice cream trucks and bikes in Mississauga parks became contentious this year.

The city typically conducts a lottery process for ice cream truck and bike operations in city parks each year, running from March to April. However, this year’s process encountered some complications.

At a recent city general committee meeting on June 5th, Antonio Gallo, the owner of Gallo Ice Cream, raised concerns about the process. Gallo operates a bicycle ice cream service in Jack Darling Park, and he reported that another company attempted to obtain the rights for ice cream vending in the park.

According to Gallo, the unnamed vendor didn’t intend to operate an ice cream bike but aimed to eliminate competition for their ice cream truck in the park. Gallo alleged that the vendor sought to purchase the license solely to prevent the ice cream bike from competing.

The vendor submitted multiple applications under different corporate names, although the same individual was listed as the sole member of the board of directors for each corporation. Gallo argued that this strategy was an attempt to increase their chances in the lottery process, which he deemed unfair and unethical.

Aside from being unjust, this maneuver limits consumer choice and disrupts community services, as many residents in Ward 2 prefer purchasing from the ice cream bicycle. Gallo stressed that licenses should be reserved for individuals genuinely interested in operating, rather than being misused as a tool of corruption by ice cream truck vendors.

While the issue was resolved for this year, Gallo expressed concerns about potential recurrence in the future. City of Mississauga staff confirmed the vendor’s multiple entries in the lottery under different corporation names but stated that they had addressed the matter.

Moving forward, city staff are reviewing the procurement process, acknowledging the challenge of discerning participants’ intentions during bidding. Despite the challenges, Gallo assured that his company’s ice cream bikes would continue serving Jack Darling Park this summer.