What Lux Ice does

Lux Ice is a Texas-based producer and distributor of premium craft ice products, founded in 2020 by Shawn and Noelle Kilcoyne. The company specializes in crystal clear, slow-melt ice spheres (2.36 inch Signature Spheres) and cubes (2 inch Classic Cubes with beveled edges) manufactured using proprietary filtration and purification processes that produce ice melting significantly slower than ordinary ice and preserving the undiluted taste of beverages. In 2023, Lux Ice became the first dedicated craft ice company to receive Food Safe accreditation from the International Packaged Ice Association (IPIA).

The company sells through a dual-channel model. Retail consumers purchase 6-count resealable packs at major national and regional grocery chains (including Albertsons, Kroger, HEB, Publix, Wegmans, Hy-Vee, Meijer, Harris Teeter, Hannaford, and others), at wine & spirits retailers, convenience stores, and via Instacart for direct home delivery. Foodservice operators — restaurants, bars, hotels, casinos, and country clubs — purchase bulk 72-unit cases (4 x 18-count packs) through Dot Distribution under dedicated item codes. The company also sells the trademarked Temper Vessel, a stainless steel accessory that tempers ice spheres and provides bar-top display functionality, via Amazon and operator programming.

Lux Ice generates revenue through one-time product sales across both consumer and foodservice segments, plus hardware sales of the Temper Vessel. After starting in a small commercial kitchen at Cherry Street Kitchens in Pennsylvania and launching with Wegmans and Total Wine & More, the company relocated to Morrisville, PA and then in fall 2022 to a 45,000 sq ft facility in Flower Mound, Texas to execute a nationwide distribution strategy. The company has raised approximately $6.3 million in equity across three rounds (October 2022, May 2023 Series A, and February 2024) and is founder-led, with a separate CEO (Michael Crouse) now listed alongside founder Shawn Kilcoyne.

Name

Lux Ice

Legal name

Lux Ice, LLC

Website

https://luxiceusa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lux Ice produces and distributes premium crystal clear, slow-melt ice spheres and cubes to retail consumers via major grocery chains and to foodservice operators through Dot Distribution. Founded in 2020 and based in Flower Mound, Texas, it was the first craft ice producer to earn IPIA food-safe accreditation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Flower Mound

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Retail Ice Product Sales: Sale of premium craft ice spheres and cubes to consumers through retail grocery stores, wine & spirits shops, and convenience stores. Products sold in consumer packs (6-count) and through Instacart e-commerce.
2. Foodservice Product Sales: Sale of bulk ice packs (18-count, 4 packs per case = 72 spheres/cubes) to restaurants, bars, hotels, casinos, country clubs, and other away-from-home venues through distribution partnerships.
3. Temper Vessel Sales: Sale of the trademarked Temper Vessel accessory for foodservice operators, available through operator programming and Amazon direct purchase.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lux Ice manufactures and distributes premium craft ice products, including slow-melt crystal clear ice spheres and cubes, sold through retail consumer packs (6-count resealable) for at-home use and bulk foodservice packs (4 x 18-count = 72 units) for restaurants, bars, hotels, and country clubs. The company also offers the trademarked Temper Vessel accessory for bar-top display and ice tempering.

Product overview

LUX ICE provides a portfolio of crystal clear, slow-melt premium craft ice products designed to elevate beverage experiences. The core product line consists of Signature Spheres (2.36 inch) and Classic Cubes (2 inch with beveled edges), offered in Retail Consumer Packs (6-count resealable packs for home use) and Foodservice Packs (4 x 18 count = 72 units for commercial operators). The company also offers the Temper Vessel accessory for foodservice operators, which tempers ice spheres and displays them on bar-tops. All products are designed to melt slower than ordinary ice, preserving undiluted beverage taste.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Signature Spheres 2.36-inch crystal clear, perfectly round slow-melt premium ice spheres designed for upscale beverages and cocktails; sold via Retail Consumer Packs (6-count) for consumers and Foodservice Packs (4 x 18-count = 72 units) for commercial operators.
• Classic Cubes 2-inch cubes with gently beveled edges, crystal clear premium slow-melt ice for beverages; distributed in Retail Consumer Packs and Foodservice Packs.
• Retail Consumer Pack Convenient 6-count, resealable pack of crystal clear slow-melt ice spheres intended for at-home consumer enjoyment; cases contain 6 x 6-count packs.
• Foodservice Pack Commercial pack containing 4 x 18-count packs (72 spheres or cubes total) for foodservice operators including restaurants, bars, hotels, casinos, and country clubs; distributed via Dot Distribution under item codes #774894 (Spheres) and #783033 (Cubes).
• Temper Vessel Trademarked stainless steel vessel that tempers ice spheres to prevent cracking and maintains frozen integrity for hours; designed for bar-top display and storage for foodservice operators, also available to consumers via Amazon.

Quantifiable outcome

• First craft ice company accredited Food Safe by IPIA
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• The Storehouse of Collin CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partnership focused on community empowerment and employee development. The Storehouse identifies job-ready neighbors and refers candidates for employment at Lux Ice. Once hired, The Storehouse provides mentorship to ensure professional success. The partnership supports Lux Ice's 'Ice for Good' (I.C.E. - Investing in Communities and Employees) mission.
• Dot DistributioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFoodservice distribution partner for Lux Ice products to away-from-home venues including restaurants, bars, hotels, casinos, and country clubs. Products distributed under item codes #774894 (Spheres) and #783033 (Cubes).

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Scotsman Ice Systems: Scotsman is a long-established commercial ice machine brand sold through foodservice dealers. It enables on-premise ice production that Lux Ice's products are positioned to replace, making it an adjacent ecosystem participant.
• Manitowoc Ice: Manitowoc Ice is a major commercial ice machine brand serving foodservice and hospitality. It is an adjacent infrastructure player whose installed base defines the on-premise ice production model Lux Ice competes against.
• Ice-O-Matic: Ice-O-Matic manufactures commercial ice machines for foodservice and retail. Like Hoshizaki and Scotsman, it represents the on-premise production alternative that Lux Ice's outsourced craft ice model is designed to displace.
• Hoshizaki America: Hoshizaki is a leading global manufacturer of commercial ice-making machines used by foodservice operators. It is an infrastructure/equipment provider for the category rather than a direct competitor, but adjacent to Lux Ice's foodservice end market.

Broad incumbents

• Home City Ice: Home City Ice is a major Midwest packaged ice producer serving retail grocery and foodservice accounts. It competes in the same channel relationships Lux Ice targets but at significantly larger scale in standard packaged ice.
• Reddy Ice: Reddy Ice is one of the largest packaged ice producers in North America, operating at commodity scale across retail and foodservice channels. It is a direct substitute supplier that could launch a premium sub-line to compete with Lux Ice.
• Arctic Ice: Arctic Ice produces and distributes packaged ice across multiple regional U.S. markets for retail and foodservice, representing a broad-based incumbent in the same end markets Lux Ice serves with a premium positioning.

Direct peers

• True Cubes: True Cubes sells premium clear ice cubes and spheres direct-to-consumer and to bartenders, mirroring Lux Ice's craft positioning, slow-melt/clear ice technology, and focus on cocktail and foodservice applications.

Regional players

• The Ice Co. The Ice Co. is a UK-based premium packaged ice brand offering clear ice cubes and spheres for retail and on-trade customers. It is a regional analogue to Lux Ice's craft positioning, operating across a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/luxiceusa
• Facebookfacebook.com/luxiceusa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lux-ice

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lux Ice