The Screamery

What The Screamery does

The Screamery (legal entity Scream Creamery LLC) is a privately held, handcrafted ice cream producer founded in 2014 by Kenny and Linda Sarnoski in Tucson, Arizona. The company operates six retail storefronts across Arizona (three in Tucson, plus Marana, Phoenix, and Chandler), and serves end consumers seeking premium natural-ingredient ice cream, event organizers, restaurant and grocery wholesale buyers, and prospective franchisees. Distribution is supplemented by third-party delivery partnerships with DoorDash, GrubHub, and Uber Eats.

The Screamery's core technical capability is in-house pasteurization, a process in which it was Arizona's first certified operator. The proprietary five-step production flow heats the ice cream base (premium hormone-free milk, cream, sugar, eggs, and natural flavors) to 155°F for 30 minutes, rapidly cools it to 50°F via a 100-gallon chiller, ages it 24 hours, churns for 10 minutes, hardens at -30°F for 24 hours, then places it in dipping cabinets. This controlled pipeline enables direct flavor infusion into the base and supports a menu of more than 40 named ice cream SKUs plus dairy-free sorbets, specialty creations (Ice Cream Nachos, Flights, Farmhouse), shakes, floats, and coffee/espresso drinks.

The company monetizes through four channels: (1) direct-to-consumer retail sales via dine-in and pickup at company-owned stores, (2) catering services for events ranging from 20 to over 10,000 attendees, (3) wholesale distribution to restaurants and supermarkets (including Whole Foods), and (4) a franchise program with a $35,000 initial fee and $240,000 minimum total investment. Revenue is generated from unit-priced retail transactions, tiered catering pricing, wholesale supply contracts, and franchise fees plus ongoing royalties. The business is bootstrapped and family-controlled, with no disclosed institutional funding.

Name

The Screamery

Legal name

Scream Creamery LLC

Website

https://thescreamery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Screamery is a Tucson, Arizona-based handcrafted ice cream producer operating six retail locations across Arizona, with catering, wholesale distribution to restaurants and supermarkets, and a franchise program, serving consumers seeking natural-ingredient premium ice cream.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Handcrafted Ice Cream

NAICS

Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (311520)

SIC

Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024)

akta.pro primary industry

Ice Cream (Hard Pack) Manufacturing (AFAHAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts Wholesale (AFAIAHAC), Dairy-Based Frozen Dessert Mixes & Bases Manufacturing (Industrial/Private Label) (AFAHAEAI)

Keywords

• Handcrafted ice cream
• Natural ice cream
• Ice cream catering
• Ice cream franchise
• Wholesale ice cream

Headquarters

HQ city

Tucson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Ice Cream Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of handcrafted ice cream through company-owned retail locations. Customers can purchase single scoops, specialty creations (Ice Cream Nachos, Flights of Ice Cream, Sundaes, Banana Splits, Farmhouse), floats, shakes, and coffee/espresso drinks.
2. Catering Services: Catering for events from 20 to over 10,000 people. Offers individually pre-scooped ice cream, bulk tubs (1.5 and 3 gallon), with delivery available for $25 within Tucson area.
3. Franchise Fees and Royalties: Initial franchise fee of $35,000 with minimum estimated cost of $240,000 including the franchise fee. Franchisees receive operational support, marketing support, training, and ongoing R&D.
4. Wholesale Distribution: Selling select ice cream flavors to restaurants and supermarkets. Products sold either pre-packaged in serving containers or in large containers for individual scoops or dessert menu items. Partners include Frog & Firkin, The Duce, and Whole Foods.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Screamery produces and sells handcrafted ice cream made from scratch in small batches using natural ingredients through a 5-step pasteurization-based process (pasteurizing at 155°F, aging 24 hours, churning, hardening at -30°F, and serving). The company operates 6 company-owned retail storefronts across Arizona (Tucson, Marana, Phoenix, Chandler), distributes wholesale to restaurants and supermarkets, offers catering for events of 20 to over 10,000 people, and sells franchises.

Product overview

The Screamery is a handcrafted ice cream company operating as a unified retail product business. Its core product is handcrafted ice cream made from scratch in small batches using natural ingredients, premium hormone-free milk and cream, with a 5-step pasteurization-based process. The product portfolio spans over 40 named ice cream flavors, dairy-free sorbets, specialty Screamery Creations (Ice Cream Nachos, Flights, Sundaes, Banana Splits, Farmhouse), floats and shakes, coffee/espresso drinks, catering options (individual pre-scooped servings and bulk tubs), wholesale distribution to partner restaurants and supermarkets, and a franchise program. The company also offers in-store pickup and third-party delivery integration via DoorDash, GrubHub, and Uber Eats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Handcrafted Ice Cream (Retail) Handcrafted ice cream made from scratch using natural ingredients with no antibiotics, synthetic hormones, toxic pesticides, or chemical stabilizers. Sold by the scoop, in specialty creations (Ice Cream Nachos, Flights of Ice Cream, Sundaes, Banana Splits, Farmhouse), in dairy-free sorbets, floats, shakes, and coffee/espresso drinks at company-owned retail stores.
• Catering Services Catering for corporate events, private parties, and weddings. Offers individually pre-scooped ice cream (Small 4oz to Quart 32oz) with tiered volume pricing (minimum 20 units) and bulk tubs (1.5 Gallon at $85, 3 Gallon at $150) requiring 72-hour advance notice. $25 delivery fee available within Tucson area.
• Wholesale Ice Cream Distribution Select Screamery ice cream flavors sold to partner restaurants (Frog & Firkin, The Duce) and supermarkets (Whole Foods). Products available pre-packaged in serving containers or in large containers for individual scoops or dessert menu items. Custom flavor creation available for establishments.
• Franchise Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple consecutive 'Best of' awards from 2017-2022 in Tucson and Phoenix markets
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GrubHubcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDelivery partner enabling customers to order The Screamery ice cream for home delivery in select areas.
• DoorDashcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDelivery partner enabling customers to order The Screamery ice cream for home delivery. DoorDash is prominently featured on location pages.
• Uber EatsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDelivery partner enabling customers to order The Screamery ice cream for home delivery in select areas.
• Frog & FirkinminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRestaurant in Tucson, AZ that sells select flavors of Screamery Ice Cream.
• The DuceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRestaurant in Phoenix, AZ that sells select flavors of Screamery Ice Cream.
• Whole FoodscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupermarket chain selling select flavors of Screamery Ice Cream at their Phoenix and Flagstaff, AZ locations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams: Premium craft ice cream brand emphasizing direct-to-consumer scoop shops, unique flavors, and direct relationships with dairy farms. Closely mirrors Screamery's small-batch pasteurization, retail-driven model, and experiential brand positioning.
• Coolhaus: Architectural-themed, premium ice cream brand offering inventive flavors with retail and grocery distribution. Comparable to Screamery through its creative-flavor emphasis, natural-ingredient positioning, and growth from scoop shops into packaged wholesale.
• Salt & Straw Ice Cream: Portland-born handcrafted, small-batch ice cream maker known for inventive seasonal flavors and a clean-label, in-house production ethos. Directly comparable to The Screamery in positioning around natural ingredients and creative flavor development.
• Graeter's Ice Cream: Family-owned, century-old Cincinnati craft ice cream maker using a French-pot batch process, with strong regional scoop shop presence and national grocery distribution. Directly comparable as a multi-generational family-run premium ice cream manufacturer/retailer.
• Van Leeuwen Ice Cream: Premium ice cream brand built on simple, high-quality ingredients (grass-fed dairy, no artificial stabilizers) with broad retail scoop shop and grocery pint distribution. Comparable to Screamery's clean-label positioning and multi-channel (retail + wholesale) growth strategy.

Broad incumbents

• Blue Bunny (Wells Enterprises): One of the largest U.S. ice cream manufacturers, owned by Wells Enterprises, with broad mainstream and premium lines (Blue Bunny, Halo Top, Blue Ribbon). Relevant as a large-scale ice cream manufacturer competing for grocery shelf and foodservice accounts alongside Screamery's wholesale channel.
• Tillamook County Creamery Association: Farmer-owned Oregon dairy cooperative with a sizable premium ice cream line distributed nationally through grocery and foodservice. Comparable through its farmer-owned, natural-ingredient positioning in premium ice cream manufacturing and grocery wholesale.
• Marble Slab Creamery: International franchise-based premium ice cream concept offering mix-in customization on a frozen slab. Comparable to The Screamery through its franchise-led retail expansion of a premium, customizable ice cream experience.
• Cold Stone Creamery: National franchise-based scoop shop chain (Kahala Brands) mixing ice cream on a frozen stone with extensive franchise system. Comparable as a franchised premium/custom ice cream retail model, though at much larger scale and with different flavor philosophy.
• Häagen-Dazs: Iconic global premium ice cream brand with extensive scoop shop, grocery, and foodservice distribution. Overlaps Screamery's premium positioning but operates at vastly broader scale and portfolio scope, competing for the same premium consumer wallet.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thescreamery
• Facebookfacebook.com/thescreamery
• Instagraminstagram.com/thescreamery
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-screamery-handcrafted-ice-cream

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 The Screamery