Love Creamery

What Love Creamery does

Love Creamery LLC is a privately held, woman-owned artisan ice cream company founded in 2014 and headquartered at 1908 West Superior Street in Duluth, Minnesota's Lincoln Park Craft District. The company produces small-batch, handcrafted ice cream with on-site daily churning, sourcing dairy, fruit, coffee, maple syrup, tea, baked goods, and other ingredients from a regional supplier network that includes Autumnwood Family Dairy, Northwind Organic Farm, Duluth Coffee Company, and Positively 3rd Street Bakery. Production supports a rotating menu of approximately 16 dairy and vegan flavors daily, with four year-round staples complemented by seasonal and limited releases such as Goat Cheese Honeycomb, Lucky Charmz, Salted Maple Candied Walnut, and Espresso Brownie Fudge, plus an extensive dietary-inclusion catalog spanning multiple vegan bases (coconut, sunflower, sesame, almond, cashew, peanut butter) and gluten-free options including waffle cones.

The company operates three year-round scoop shops — Canal Park (Duluth), Lincoln Park (Duluth), and Billings Park (Superior, Wisconsin) — with the Superior location doubling as the production facility. Beyond company-owned retail, Love Creamery distributes pints and products through a wholesale channel covering 20+ named regional establishments across Minnesota and Wisconsin, including breweries (Blacklist Brewing, Castle Danger Brewery), the Whole Foods Cooperative, hospitality venues (Sheraton Duluth Hotel), healthcare (Essentia Health Downtown Duluth), tourism (Glensheen Mansion, Great Lakes Aquarium), and education (University of Minnesota Duluth, where a custom 'Champ' mascot flavor was developed). Specialty treats include Ice Cream Puffs, Sandwiches, Hand-Dipped Bars, Flights, Floats, Shakes, Malts, Affogatos, and custom ice cream cakes (dairy-free and gluten-free variants available), with online ordering through Square.

Revenue is generated across four streams: direct retail at scoop shops (cones, cups, sundaes, flights at $5-$7 single-serve, $30-$40 per gallon), wholesale pint distribution to regional partners, event catering (full-service ice cream cart starting at $1,500 and pre-packaged orders with a $250 minimum, May through September), and online sales of custom cakes and eGift cards. The company has accumulated regional brand recognition through the Star Tribune Minnesota Best 2025 Gold Medal for Frozen Treat/Ice Cream, The Reader's 2025 People's Choice Award for Duluth's Best Dessert, and Midwest Living Magazine's 2022 Best Ice Cream Parlor in the Midwest. Marketing relies on organic social media (Facebook, Instagram), a newsletter, earned media, and the Community Heroes program launched in 2022.

Name

Love Creamery

Legal name

Love Creamery LLC

Website

https://lovecreamery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Love Creamery is a Duluth, Minnesota-based artisan ice cream manufacturer operating three year-round scoop shops in the Twin Ports region, producing small-batch handcrafted dairy and vegan ice cream using locally sourced ingredients and serving regional wholesale and catering customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan Ice Cream

NAICS

Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (311520)

SIC

Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024)

akta.pro primary industry

Ice Cream & Gelato Shops (THAFAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ice Cream, Frozen Desserts & Novelties Manufacturing (AFAKAKAE), Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts Wholesale (AFAIAHAC), Ice Cream & Refrigerated Desserts (CRADACAE), Ice Cream Cakes & Frozen Dessert Bakery Manufacturing (AFAHAEAH), Mobile Dessert Vendors (Ice Cream/Dessert Trucks & Carts) (THAFAHAG)

Keywords

• Artisan ice cream
• Handcrafted frozen desserts
• Specialty ice cream shop
• Vegan dairy alternatives
• Ice cream catering

Headquarters

HQ city

Duluth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Ice Cream Sales: Direct sales of handcrafted ice cream through three year-round scoop shops offering cones, cups, shakes, malts, sundaes, flights, and espresso drinks. Also includes specialty treats like ice cream puffs, sandwiches, bars, affogatos, and custom cakes.
2. Wholesale/Retail Distribution: Distribution of ice cream pints and products through select retail establishments across Minnesota and Wisconsin including co-ops, breweries, cafes, restaurants, hotels, and attractions.
3. Event Catering Services: Full-service ice cream cart catering for weddings, graduations, and corporate events from May-September starting at $1,500. Also offers pre-packaged custom orders (cups, bars, sandwiches, gallons) with a $250 minimum.
4. Online Ordering: Custom ice cream cakes and eGift cards available for order online through Square.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Love Creamery is a handcrafted artisan ice cream producer operating three year-round scoop shops in Duluth, MN (Canal Park and Lincoln Park) and Superior, WI (Billings Park). The company makes small-batch ice cream using organic and natural ingredients sourced from local farms, offering four year-round flavors plus rotating seasonal dairy and vegan options, alongside specialty treats, custom ice cream cakes, and seasonal event catering.

Product overview

Love Creamery operates as a multi-location artisan ice cream company with three scoop shop retail locations (Canal Park, Lincoln Park in Duluth, MN, and Billings Park in Superior, WI) offering 16 rotating dairy and vegan ice cream flavors alongside four year-round staples. The product portfolio centers on handcrafted small-batch ice cream with specialty treats including Ice Cream Puffs, Sandwiches, Bars, Flights, Floats, Shakes, Malts, Waffle Cones, and Affogatos. Additional offerings include Custom Ice Cream Cakes (dairy-free and gluten-free options available), Ice Cream Cart Catering for events, Pre-Packaged Event Orders, eGift Cards, and Online Ordering via Square. The company differentiates through locally sourced ingredients from regional partners, sustainable practices, and inclusive dietary options including vegan and gluten-free choices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Handcrafted Ice Cream Flavors

Quantifiable outcome

• 18-19% butterfat content in ice cream
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Autumnwood Family Dairy (Daninger Family)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 1902, the Daninger family has produced natural dairy products from their farm in Forest Lake, MN. All of Love Creamery's dairy ice cream bases are sourced from Autumnwood Dairy, which is managed sustainably and has received awards for top-quality milk and community service.
• Northwind Organic FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated three miles from Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin, Tom Galazen and Ann Rosenquist operate an organic farm emphasizing solar and wind energy and beyond-organic production. Provides strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and other crops for Love Creamery's seasonal flavors.
• Duluth Coffee CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Eric Faust, Duluth Coffee Company sources beautiful coffees from origin locations. Love Creamery uses Duluth Coffee's Zenith Espresso Roast in espresso drinks and coffee-flavored ice creams including Espresso Brownie Fudge.
• Positively 3rd Street BakerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA worker-owned cooperative bakery since 1983, Positively 3rd Street Bakery makes baked goods incorporated into Love Creamery's ice cream sandwiches and other ice cream concoctions, including choux pastry for ice cream puffs.
• David Rogotzke Family SugarbushcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 1982, Dave Rogotzke has operated a successful fishing business and expanded to maple syrup production with extensive sugar bush operations. Love Creamery sources maple syrup for its Salted Maple Candied Walnut and other maple-infused flavors.
• Zenith Tea WorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStarted in 2017 by Erin Currier and Brian Moriarty, Zenith Tea Works blends teas and herbs using fairly traded and organic ingredients (over 90%). Used in Love Creamery's Chai, London Fog, Green Tea flavors and espresso bar drinks.
• Saltless Sea Urban FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Starr Brainard with a goal of providing delicious, colorful produce farmed using sustainable methods. Provides edible flowers, microgreens, and duck eggs that make Love Creamery's ice cream unique.
• Glensheen Mansion GardensminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinnesota's most visited historic home on Lake Superior features a 40+ bed vegetable and fruit garden. Partnership to make ice cream from honey, herbs, and fruit grown in the gardens.
• Farm Lola (Locally Laid)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA family-run mission-based farm in Wrenshall, MN. Locally Laid aims to change egg production in America and diversified with Farm Lola produce wing. Both eggs and fruits are used in Love Creamery ice cream.
• Northern SodaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormed in 2018 by Twin Cities educators, Northern Soda creates craft sodas. Love Creamery uses their root beer and other craft sodas in floats.
• Uffda KombuchaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal kombucha producer featured as a supplier. Their kombucha is used in ice cream floats at Love Creamery locations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Salt & Straw: Multi-location artisan ice cream maker known for small-batch flavors, farmer-sourced ingredients, and cult brand status. Comparable in product philosophy (house-made inclusions, local sourcing narrative) and in operating scoop shops alongside wholesale pint distribution.
• Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams: Midwest-rooted premium artisan scoop-shop brand that grew from a single shop to a national multi-location chain. Direct comparable on handcrafted flavors, high butterfat formulations, creative rotating menus, and strong brand identity built around named local suppliers.
• Mitchell's Ice Cream: Family-run multi-location San Francisco-area scoop shop known for house-made ice cream with classic and creative flavors. Comparable as an independent scoop-shop operator with a long track record of small-batch production and a single-brand multi-store retail format.
• Amy's Ice Creams: Long-running artisan scoop-shop chain with playful flavors and a theatrical in-store experience. Comparable as a multi-location independent-style scoop shop operator emphasizing creative rotating flavors and inclusive dietary options.

Regional players

• Grand Ole Creamery: St. Paul-based ice cream parlor serving handcrafted scoops and baked goods in a multi-store footprint. Comparable as a Twin Cities-area regional scoop shop chain with a similar tradition of house-made ingredients and a bakery-integrated menu.
• Kemps: Upper Midwest regional dairy brand owned by Lactalis selling frozen dairy desserts and ice cream novelty through grocery and foodservice. Comparable as a regional dairy producer with retail pint and foodservice channels overlapping Love Creamery's wholesale footprint.
• Izzy's Ice Cream: Minneapolis-based artisan ice cream shop known for "Izzy Scoop" flavor flights. Comparable as a Minnesota-based premium scoop shop with a strong local following, multi-location presence, and similar direct-to-consumer-plus-wholesale model.

Broad incumbents

• Blue Bunny (Wells Enterprises): Iowa-headquartered mass-market ice cream and frozen dairy dessert manufacturer with strong Midwest grocery and foodservice distribution. Comparable as a Midwest-based large-scale ice cream maker competing for the same wholesale and grocery shelf space as Love Creamery's pints.
• Häagen-Dazs Shops: National premium ice cream brand operating franchised scoop shops in addition to grocery pint distribution. Comparable as a much larger incumbent that competes for the same occasion (premium scoop shop, premium pint) but with mass-produced rather than small-batch production.
• Ben & Jerry's: Iconic Vermont-based premium ice cream brand with scoop shops, branded grocery pints, and a values-driven brand narrative. Comparable as an incumbent that competes on flavor creativity, ethical sourcing, and nationwide grocery distribution, though at radically different scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LoveCreamery
• Instagraminstagram.com/lovecreamery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Love Creamery