Ice Cream Factory
Ice Cream Factory is a Missouri-based premium handcrafted ice cream manufacturer distributing through 4,000+ retail locations across 35+ states, with co-packing and private-label services, now majority-owned by PNC Brands Group following an October 2025 acquisition.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersLebanon, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Ice Cream Factory does
Ice Cream Factory is a Missouri-based premium handcrafted ice cream manufacturer founded in 2019 by Shannon and Katie Imler. The company operates an 86,000 square foot SQF and FDA-certified manufacturing facility in Lebanon, Missouri, producing ice cream in 12oz (converting to pint) retail containers and 2.5 gallon tubs, with in-house baked inclusions such as brownies, pie crusts, and cookies hand-layered into each batch. Signature flavors include Gooey Butter Cake, Blackberry Cobbler, and Brownie Blast, with a clean-label positioning that avoids additives like carrageenan.
The company generates revenue through four streams: branded wholesale distribution to over 4,000 retail locations across 35+ states (national grocery chains, convenience stores, coffee shops, boutiques, and mom-and-pop shops); direct-to-consumer nationwide shipping via its own e-commerce storefront; co-packing and private-label contract manufacturing for food brands; and previously scoop shop retail (closed in September 2025). The co-packing offering includes custom formula development, dairy-free and specialty frozen dessert lines, and is supported by the company's bakery capabilities.
In October 2025, PNC Brands Group, LLC acquired a majority interest in Ice Cream Factory to modernize the Lebanon facility and accelerate national scaling, while founders Shannon Imler (now Chief Growth Officer) and the operational team continue to lead the business under PNC CEO Gail Kurpgeweit. Distribution spans Midwest, Southeast, Northeast, Southwest, West Coast, Mountain, and Great Plains regions, with no international presence disclosed.
Ice Cream Factory firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ice Cream Factory
- Legal name
- Ice Cream Factory
- Website
- https://icecreamfactoryco.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Ice Cream Factory is a Missouri-based premium handcrafted ice cream manufacturer distributing through 4,000+ retail locations across 35+ states, with co-packing and private-label services, now majority-owned by PNC Brands Group following an October 2025 acquisition.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ice Cream Factory industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Premium Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (31152)
- SIC
- Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ice Cream, Frozen Desserts & Novelties Manufacturing (AFAKAKAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Dairy-Based Frozen Dessert Mixes & Bases Manufacturing (Industrial/Private Label) (AFAHAEAI)
Keywords
Where Ice Cream Factory is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lebanon
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Ice Cream Factory business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Retail Ice Cream Sales: Ice Cream Factory generates revenue through selling their branded ice cream products to consumers via retail stores and grocery chains across 35+ states. They offer 12oz containers and 2.5 gallon tubs in various flavors.
- Wholesale Distribution: The company supplies ice cream products to wholesale partners including grocery stores, convenience stores, coffee shops, boutiques, and independent retailers.
- E-commerce Direct Sales: Ice Cream Factory sells directly to consumers through their nationwide shipping service, delivering products to customers' doorsteps across the United States.
- Co-Packing and Private Label Manufacturing: Ice Cream Factory provides contract ice cream production services for other food brands, including custom formulas, private label programs, and dairy-free/specialty frozen dessert lines. They charge for manufacturing services based on production runs.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Ice Cream Factory product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ice Cream Factory manufactures premium handcrafted ice cream in retail containers, pints, and 2.5-gallon tubs using high butterfat content, clean label ingredients, and in-house bakery inclusions. The company distributes its branded products through 4,000+ retail locations and nationwide shipping, and provides co-packing and private label ice cream manufacturing services to other food brands from its SQF- and FDA-certified Lebanon, Missouri facility.
Product overview
Ice Cream Factory is a family-owned premium ice cream company that has pivoted from a scoop shop retailer to a frozen dessert manufacturer and co-packing provider. The core product portfolio centers on handcrafted premium ice cream available in multiple formats: 12oz retail containers (being converted to pints), 2.5 gallon tubs for wholesale, and private label programs. The company operates a single 86,000 sq ft manufacturing facility in Lebanon, Missouri and provides contract manufacturing services including co-packing and private label ice cream production with in-house bakery inclusions. Products are distributed through 4,000+ retail locations across 35+ states via wholesale channels, with direct-to-consumer nationwide shipping. The company joined PNC Brands Group in late 2025 to gain infrastructure for national scaling while maintaining Missouri-based production.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Premium Ice Cream (12oz Containers and Pints) Handcrafted premium ice cream in 12oz retail containers (being converted to pints) featuring unique flavors with bakery-fresh inclusions, distributed through 4,000+ retail locations across 35+ states and via nationwide shipping to individual consumers.
- 2.5 Gallon Tubs Large-format 2.5-gallon ice cream tubs used for wholesale partners, scoop shop operations, and bulk food service customers.
- Co-Packing and Private Label Ice Cream Manufacturing Contract ice cream and frozen dessert manufacturing services including custom formula development, private label programs, and co-manufacturing for dairy-free and specialty frozen dessert lines, using in-house bakery inclusions. Targeted at food brands and CPG companies seeking manufacturing capacity without capital investment.
- Nationwide Shipping (Direct-to-Consumer) Direct-to-consumer online ordering with nationwide shipping of premium ice cream products to residential customers across the United States, via the buyicecreamfactory.com storefront.
- Dairy-Free and Specialty Frozen Desserts Specialty frozen dessert line including dairy-free and vegan options (e.g., Coconut Almond Paradise, Lemon Poppyseed) produced alongside the core dairy ice cream range.
- Peanut Butter & Jelly Seasonal Flavor Seasonal peanut butter ice cream with buttered pie crust inclusion and strawberry swirl, launched as a limited-time flavor extension to the core ice cream lineup.
Quantifiable outcome
- Products available in over 4,000 retail locations across 35+ states
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Ice Cream Factory
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ice Cream Factory technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Ice Cream Factory partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ice Cream Factory competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Talenti Gelato & Sorbetto: Premium gelato/sorbet brand with national grocery distribution and distinctive inclusions. Comparable as a pint-format premium frozen dessert competitor that has demonstrated the premium-to-mass retail playbook Ice Cream Factory is pursuing with its pint conversion.
- Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams: Premium artisanal ice cream brand with strong direct-to-consumer, grocery, and scoop shop heritage that has since pivoted toward national wholesale. Closely comparable on positioning, unique flavors, and the wholesale/DTC channel mix Ice Cream Factory is now pursuing.
- Graeter's Ice Cream: Family-owned premium ice cream maker using a French pot process to hand-pack inclusions. Highly comparable to Ice Cream Factory's hand-layered, small-batch positioning, premium pricing, and selective grocery distribution strategy.
- Steve's Ice Cream: Premium ice cream brand emphasizing high-quality ingredients and distinctive inclusions. Comparable on the small-batch, inclusion-driven premium positioning and supermarket distribution model Ice Cream Factory operates in.
- Tillamook County Creamery Association: Farmer-owned dairy brand that has scaled premium ice cream nationally through grocery. Comparable on the regional-premium-to-national playbook, clean ingredient messaging, and use of inclusions and mix-ins to drive differentiation.
- Turkey Hill Dairy: Established regional dairy and ice cream manufacturer with national grocery distribution and a private label/co-manufacturing business. Comparable on the integrated branded + private label manufacturing model and grocery channel depth.
- Blue Bell Creameries: Privately held premium ice cream manufacturer with a similar regional-to-national distribution model. Blue Bell competes in the same grocery, foodservice, and scoop channels with comparable handcrafted positioning, making it the closest direct comparable for Ice Cream Factory's branded retail business.
Others
- High Brew Coffee: Sister PNC Brands Group portfolio company. Useful as a comparable for PNC's brand-building playbook, operational infrastructure, and channel strategy that Ice Cream Factory will plug into post-acquisition.
Broad incumbents
- Wells Enterprises (Blue Bunny): Large U.S. ice cream manufacturer producing Blue Bunny and private label brands. Comparable as a scaled contract manufacturer and grocery competitor; broader portfolio but directly relevant to Ice Cream Factory's co-packing ambitions and grocery competition.
Emerging players
- Coolhaus: Premium ice cream and novelty brand with strong co-packing/private label capabilities. Comparable as a smaller-scale competitor pursuing a similar mix of branded retail and B2B contract manufacturing in the artisan ice cream category.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ice Cream Factory social profiles
Digital presenceIce Cream Factory compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Ice Cream Factory financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ice Cream Factory leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Ice Cream Factory funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ice Cream Factory 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 Ice Cream Factory
What does Ice Cream Factory do?
Ice Cream Factory manufactures premium handcrafted ice cream in retail containers, pints, and 2.5-gallon tubs using high butterfat content, clean label ingredients, and in-house bakery inclusions. The company distributes its branded products through 4,000+ retail locations and nationwide shipping, and provides co-packing and private label ice cream manufacturing services to other food brands from its SQF- and FDA-certified Lebanon, Missouri facility.
Is Ice Cream Factory a public or private company?
Ice Cream Factory is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Ice Cream Factory founded?
Ice Cream Factory was founded in 2019. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Ice Cream Factory based?
Ice Cream Factory is headquartered in Lebanon, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ice Cream Factory make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Retail Ice Cream Sales are the primary driver. The others are wholesale Distribution, E-commerce Direct Sales and co-Packing and Private Label Manufacturing.
Who are Ice Cream Factory's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Talenti Gelato & Sorbetto, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, Graeter's Ice Cream, Steve's Ice Cream, Tillamook County Creamery Association, Turkey Hill Dairy and Blue Bell Creameries. High Brew Coffee is listed as an others. Wells Enterprises (Blue Bunny) is listed as a broad incumbent. Coolhaus is listed as an emerging player.
Does Ice Cream Factory have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ice Cream Factory.
What industry is Ice Cream Factory in?
Ice Cream Factory's product category is Premium Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAKAKAE, Ice Cream, Frozen Desserts & Novelties Manufacturing, with a secondary code of AFAHAEAI, Dairy-Based Frozen Dessert Mixes & Bases Manufacturing (Industrial/Private Label). Its NAICS code is 31152 and its SIC code is 2024.