The Charmery
The Charmery is a Baltimore-based craft ice cream manufacturer and retailer operating five storefronts across the Baltimore-DC corridor, serving retail consumers, corporate clients, and group event customers with super premium handcrafted flavors, catering, and an in-house production facility.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersBaltimore, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What The Charmery does
The Charmery is a Baltimore-based, privately held craft ice cream manufacturer and retailer founded by husband-and-wife team David and Laura Alima, who spent over a decade on international R&D travel before opening their first shop. The company produces super premium handcrafted ice cream using dairy from local grass-fed, hormone-free cows, with seven core "Always" flavors (including Baltimore-signature SKUs such as Maryland Mud and Old Bay Caramel) plus rotating seasonal varieties and always-available dairy-free options.
The business operates five owned locations across the Baltimore-DC corridor: Hampden and Towson (Baltimore), the Ice Cream Factory at Union Collective (which also serves as a manufacturing and event site), Columbia (Merriweather District), and Walter Reed in Washington DC. The DC location houses Saturday Sundae, a weekend-only pop-up sub-brand with a specialty menu and dedicated social channels. Distribution runs through in-store retail, direct online ordering via ToastTab and Square, gift cards, and third-party delivery via UberEats, DoorDash, and GrubHub.
Revenue is generated through retail scoop, sundae, shake, pie, and pint sales, an event and catering vertical (Ice Cream Socials, Corporate Catering, Birthday Parties, Group Gatherings, Sandos, Pies) with structured minimums ($750 corporate, 75-guest social floors, $450-$599 birthday packages), and gift cards. Pricing is per-transaction unit or per-person, with no disclosed subscription or recurring contract revenue. The company has no outside investors, no parent company, and is structured as The Charmery LLC in Maryland, with operations and revenue concentrated entirely in the Baltimore-DC metropolitan area.
The Charmery firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Charmery
- Legal name
- The Charmery LLC
- Website
- https://thecharmery.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Charmery is a Baltimore-based craft ice cream manufacturer and retailer operating five storefronts across the Baltimore-DC corridor, serving retail consumers, corporate clients, and group event customers with super premium handcrafted flavors, catering, and an in-house production facility.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Charmery industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Premium Ice Cream
- NAICS
- Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (311520), Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (31152)
- SIC
- Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ice Cream & Gelato Shops (THAFAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Ice Cream, Frozen Desserts & Novelties Manufacturing (AFAKAKAE)
Keywords
Where The Charmery is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Baltimore
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
The Charmery business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Retail Ice Cream Sales: In-store and online ordering of scoops, sundaes, milkshakes, floats, and pre-packed pints/pies at five physical locations. Core revenue driver through direct consumer purchases.
- Catering & Events: On-site ice cream catering for corporate events, birthday parties, group gatherings, and ice cream socials. Includes Ice Cream Socials ($10/person), Corporate Catering ($8/person), Birthday Parties ($450-$599), Group Gatherings ($6/person), Ice Cream Pies ($33), and Ice Cream Sandos ($7 each, min 20).
- Gift Cards: E-gift cards and in-store gift certificates sold through ToastTab and Square platforms for gifting purposes.
- Third-Party Delivery: Partnership with UberEats, DoorDash, and GrubHub for direct-to-consumer ice cream delivery, generating transaction fees through these platforms.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Scooper hourly wages starting at $17/hour plus tips |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ice Cream Pies - $33 each, serves 8-12 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ice Cream Sandos - $7 per sando, minimum 20 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Corporate Ice Cream Social - $8 per person, 75 guest minimum |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Corporate Sando Socials - premium handheld option |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ice Cream Break - simple classic treat |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ice Cream Factory Birthday Party - starting at $599 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Towson Birthday Party - starting at $450 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Group Gatherings - starting at $6 per person, 15 guest minimum |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ice Cream Socials - $10 per person, 75 guest minimum |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Saturday Sundae DC Pop-up menu items |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Charmery product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Charmery manufactures and sells super premium, handcrafted ice cream at five retail locations across Maryland and Washington DC, plus through catering and events. The product line includes seven 'Always' staple flavors (e.g., Maryland Mud, Old Bay Caramel) and rotating seasonal varieties, with dairy sourced from grass-fed, hormone-free cows and always at least two dairy-free options. Supplementary services include on-site catering for corporate events, birthday parties, group gatherings, and a Saturday Sundae weekend pop-up at the Walter Reed location.
Product overview
The Charmery is a local hand-crafted ice cream company operating as a unified product-and-service offering. Their core product is super premium handcrafted ice cream in seven 'Always' flavors plus rotating seasonal varieties. The product portfolio spans retail ice cream sales at five physical shop locations (Hampden, Towson, Columbia, Walter Reed/DC, and Ice Cream Factory), e-commerce through delivery platforms (UberEats, DoorDash, GrubHub), and catering/event services (Ice Cream Socials, Birthday Parties, Group Gatherings, Corporate Catering). Additional products include Ice Cream Sandos, Ice Cream Pies, and E-Gift Cards. The Saturday Sundae pop-up at the Walter Reed location operates as a sub-brand with its own specialty menu.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Saturday Sundae: A weekend-only pop-up located inside The Charmery DC (Walter Reed), featuring specialty menu items including Cro-cone, Strawberry Matcha Shake, Cone-Oli, Snack Cake Shake, Takeout Sundae, Cold Brew Shake, and Belgian Liege Waffle Sundae.
Products and services
- Handcrafted Premium Ice Cream
Companies that use The Charmery
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Charmery technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature3 records
The Charmery partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Dan DeaconminorMusical artist collaboration. Owner David Alima has a background in reggae music and sound system culture. Dan Deacon's music is featured at shops and represents the creative, community-focused brand identity.
- Future IslandsminorBaltimore-based band collaboration. Featured artist at The Charmery, representing local music scene integration.
- My Morning JacketminorMusical artist collaboration with acclaimed band. Community partnership celebrating local and touring artists.
- Ground & GriddledminorLocal food business collaboration. Represents community partnership with fellow Baltimore food makers.
- Pure Chocolate by JinjiminorLocal chocolate maker collaboration. Joint product development for ice cream flavors featuring artisan chocolate.
- T.T. the ArtistminorLocal artist collaboration. Community partnership with Baltimore creative scene.
- Baltimore Spirits CompanyminorLocal spirits company collaboration on ice cream flavors. Joint product development for unique Baltimore-inspired flavors.
- ClavelminorLocal restaurant collaboration. Community partnership with Baltimore dining establishment.
- Otterbein CookiesminorLocal cookie maker collaboration. Joint product development featuring Baltimore's classic Otterbein cookies in ice cream.
- UNION Craft BrewingminorLocal brewery co-located at Union Collective where Ice Cream Factory is located. Community partnership and potential flavor collaborations.
- Vent Coffee RoastersminorLocal coffee roaster collaboration used in Cold Brew Shake at Saturday Sundae. Ingredient partnership for quality coffee ice cream applications.
- Charlottetown FarmminorFarm partnership for locally sourced ingredients. Supports The Charmery's commitment to using best possible ingredients from local farmers.
- Cold Run CreameryminorLocal creamery partnership for dairy sourcing. Supports commitment to grass-fed, hormone-free, happy cow dairy.
- Karma FarmsminorFarm partnership for locally sourced produce. Supports seasonal ice cream flavors using real fruit from local agriculture.
- Moon Valley FarmminorFarm partnership for locally sourced ingredients. Supports farm-to-table approach in ice cream production.
- Star Bright FarmminorFarm partnership for locally sourced ingredients. Contributes to The Charmery's commitment to supporting local farmers and producers.
- Saturday SundaeminorWeekend-only pop-up brand inside Walter Reed location featuring specialty ice cream items like Cro-cone, specialty shakes, and waffle sundaes. Has dedicated Instagram and TikTok presence.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights6 records
The Charmery competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Salt & Straw Ice Cream: Portland-born craft ice cream maker with a portfolio of scoop shops in major U.S. metros and a national shipping business. Directly comparable on small-batch, narrative-driven flavors, retail-led model, and high price points.
- Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams: Premium handcrafted ice cream brand operating company-owned scoop shops across multiple U.S. cities plus online shipping. Closest direct comparable — same super-premium positioning, rotating seasonal flavors, and omnichannel retail + catering model.
- Graeter's: Cincinnati-based premium ice cream maker with company-owned scoop shops and grocery pint distribution. Comparable as a multi-generational, privately-held manufacturer-retailer with strong regional brand identity.
- Ample Hills Creamery: Brooklyn-origin premium scoop shop with cult following and rotating inventive flavors. Comparable as a founder-led, artisanal retail concept with strong local brand loyalty before scaling challenges.
- Sweet Rose Creamery: Small-batch handcrafted scoop shop with multiple NYC-area locations. Comparable scale, premium positioning, rotating flavors, and neighborhood-storefront operating model.
- Van Leeuwen Ice Cream: Premium scoop shops plus grocery pint distribution, founded in Brooklyn with vegan and classic lines. Highly comparable product breadth (dairy-free options mandatory at The Charmery too) and retail + DTC dual model.
Broad incumbents
- Cold Stone Creamery: Largest U.S. ice cream franchise network (~1,000+ locations). Comparable retail ice cream category but franchise-led, mass-market price points, and customizable mix-in model rather than craft positioning.
- Häagen-Dazs Shops: Global premium ice cream brand (Nestlé) operating scoop shops in U.S. cities. Comparable retail ice cream category presence but corporate-owned incumbent with mass-distribution scale rather than artisan positioning.
Regional players
- Mitchell's Ice Cream: Long-running San Francisco Bay Area premium scoop shop chain with homemade-style ice cream. Comparable as a multi-location, founder-driven premium ice cream retailer, though geographically distinct from The Charmery's Mid-Atlantic footprint.
Emerging players
- The Yard Milkshake Bar: Growing premium dessert/shake concept with multiple locations and event catering. Comparable as a creator-economy-driven premium dessert brand pursuing event and catering channels, but more focused on shakes/sundaes than core ice cream manufacturing.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Charmery social profiles
Digital presenceThe Charmery financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Charmery leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Charmery funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Charmery M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Charmery
What does The Charmery do?
The Charmery manufactures and sells super premium, handcrafted ice cream at five retail locations across Maryland and Washington DC, plus through catering and events. The product line includes seven 'Always' staple flavors (e.g., Maryland Mud, Old Bay Caramel) and rotating seasonal varieties, with dairy sourced from grass-fed, hormone-free cows and always at least two dairy-free options. Supplementary services include on-site catering for corporate events, birthday parties, group gatherings, and a Saturday Sundae weekend pop-up at the Walter Reed location.
Is The Charmery a public or private company?
The Charmery is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Charmery founded?
The Charmery was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Charmery based?
The Charmery is headquartered in Baltimore, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Charmery make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Retail Ice Cream Sales are the primary driver. The others are catering & Events, gift Cards and third-Party Delivery.
Who are The Charmery's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Salt & Straw Ice Cream, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, Graeter's, Ample Hills Creamery, Sweet Rose Creamery and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream. Broad incumbents are Cold Stone Creamery and Häagen-Dazs Shops. Mitchell's Ice Cream is listed as a regional player. The Yard Milkshake Bar is listed as an emerging player.
Does The Charmery have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Charmery.
What industry is The Charmery in?
The Charmery's product category is Premium Ice Cream. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFAGAA, Ice Cream & Gelato Shops, with a secondary code of AFAKAKAE, Ice Cream, Frozen Desserts & Novelties Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 311520 and its SIC code is 2024.