Bassetts Ice Cream

What Bassetts Ice Cream does

Bassetts Ice Cream is a Philadelphia-based, family-owned ice cream manufacturer and distributor founded in 1861, claiming the title of America's oldest ice cream company and currently in its sixth generation of family ownership. The company produces a super-premium Philadelphia-style ice cream formulated without eggs and containing over 16% butterfat, with 40+ flavor varieties. Operations span a flagship retail store at Reading Terminal Market (45 N. 12th Street, Philadelphia, operating 9am-6pm daily), a wholesale distribution business supplying 2.5-gallon and 3-gallon tubs plus pints to restaurants, country clubs, hotels, supermarkets, dipping parlors, and caterers across a 40-mile Philadelphia delivery radius plus New York and Florida. The company also distributes third-party brands (Turkey Hill, Kemps, Potts, Georgeo's Italian Ices) and operates a catering business for events of 75-10,000 people at $7-$8 per serving. Direct-to-consumer reach is enabled through third-party delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats, Mercato, goPuff) and nationwide shipping via Goldbelly and Pennsylvania General Store.

Revenue is generated through five primary streams: (1) retail sales at the Reading Terminal Market flagship plus pickup/delivery orders, (2) wholesale distribution of Bassetts and third-party brands, (3) catering services for events, (4) branded merchandise (hoodies, t-shirts, caps, knit hats, insulated totes, ice cream scoops, gift cards at $18-$50), and (5) third-party platform and shipping partner commissions. International expansion is achieved through licensing and distribution partnerships: Beijing Sino-American Food Company in China (4 locations since 2008), Beigel Caffe (Mia and Steven Yoon) in South Korea (15+ stores since 2017), and Mayfull Foods Corporation in Taiwan (7 Hi-Lai Harbour locations). The company holds OU Dairy Kosher certification and has 11-50 employees with corporate headquarters at 1211 Chestnut Street, Suite 410, Philadelphia.

Name

Bassetts Ice Cream

Legal name

Bassetts Ice Cream Company

Website

https://bassettsicecream.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1861

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bassetts Ice Cream is a 164-year-old, sixth-generation family-owned Philadelphia ice cream company producing super-premium Philadelphia-style ice cream (16%+ butterfat) sold via a Reading Terminal Market flagship, wholesale foodservice distribution, catering, nationwide shipping, and international licensing in China, South Korea, and Taiwan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Super-Premium Ice Cream Manufacturing

NAICS

Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (31152), Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (311520)

SIC

Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024)

akta.pro primary industry

Ice Cream & Refrigerated Desserts (CRADACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ice Cream & Frozen Dairy Wholesale (AFAIAEAF), Ice Cream & Gelato Shops (THAFAGAA)

Keywords

• Super-premium ice cream
• Ice cream manufacturing
• Wholesale dairy distribution
• Frozen dessert products
• Ice cream catering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Sales: Direct sales to consumers at the Reading Terminal Market location and through online ordering for pickup/delivery. Covers cups, shakes, sandwiches, pints, and sundaes to in-store and online customers.
2. Wholesale Distribution: Bulk ice cream distribution to restaurants, country clubs, hotels, supermarkets, dipping parlors, and caterers. Products include 2.5 gallon and 3 gallon tubs, pints, and novelty items. Also distributes other brands including Turkey Hill and Kemps.
3. Catering Services: Full-service catering for events with 75+ person minimum. Options include served sundaes ($8/serving) or drop-off sundae kits ($7/serving). Covers setup, scooping, and cleanup for full-service events.
4. Merchandise Sales: Branded merchandise including hooded sweatshirts ($50), t-shirts ($18), baseball caps ($22), knit hats ($25), insulated totes ($25), ice cream scoops ($24), and digital gift cards.
5. Third-Party Platform Sales: Revenue from delivery platforms (DoorDash, Uber Eats, Mercato, goPuff) and nationwide shipping partners (Goldbelly, PA General Store) with minimum 6-pint orders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Bassetts Ice Cream manufactures and sells super-premium Philadelphia-style ice cream (over 16% butterfat, no eggs) in more than 40 flavors, sold through its flagship retail store at Reading Terminal Market, online ordering, nationwide shipping, and an extensive wholesale distribution network serving restaurants, country clubs, hotels, supermarkets, and caterers. The company also offers full-service ice cream catering for events and distributes complementary third-party brands such as Turkey Hill and Kemps.

Product overview

Bassetts Ice Cream is America's oldest ice cream company (established 1861), operating as a vertically integrated ice cream business with multiple product lines and distribution channels. The core offering consists of super-premium ice cream with over 16% butterfat, available through: (1) the flagship retail store at Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, (2) wholesale bulk products (2.5 and 3 gallon tubs) for dip shops, restaurants, country clubs, hotels, and supermarkets, (3) pre-packaged pints (8-pack) available at retail and via nationwide shipping, (4) ice cream novelties (bars and sandwiches), and (5) catering services for events of 50-10,000 people. The wholesale operation distributes not only Bassetts brand products but also third-party brands including Turkey Hill Ice Cream, Kemps Ice Cream, Potts Ice Cream, Georgeo's Italian Ices, and soft serve mix. Additionally, the company sells branded merchandise (apparel, accessories, insulated totes, ice cream scoops) and gift cards. International presence includes China, South Korea, and Taiwan. The company offers no public API but does integrate with third-party delivery platforms (DoorDash, Uber Eats, Mercato, goPuff) and e-commerce shipping partners (Goldbelly, Pennsylvania General Store).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Retail Ice Cream at Reading Terminal Market Flagship retail operation at Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia offering over 40 super-premium ice cream flavors served as cups, shakes, sundaes, sandwiches, and pints to walk-in customers. Operates 9am-6pm daily.
• Bassetts Ice Cream Pints
• Bulk Ice Cream Tubs (2.5 Gallon and 3 Gallon)
• Bassetts Ice Cream Novelties Single-serve ice cream novelties including Vanilla Ice Cream Bars (vanilla on a stick coated with chocolate) and Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwiches.
• Bassetts Sorbets Dairy-free sorbet offerings including Lemon Sorbet, Mango-Apricot Sorbet, and Raspberry Sorbet, made without any dairy for non-dairy consumers.
• Ice Cream Catering Services Full-service catering for events including ice cream socials, birthday parties, weddings, and office parties. Full Service Option ($8.00 per sundae, 75 person minimum) includes 2-scoop sundae with toppings and server. Sundae Drop Off Option ($7.00 per sundae) provides pre-packed individual cups.
• Bassetts Branded Merchandise and Gift Cards Branded merchandise including 100% Cotton Hooded Sweatshirt ($50), T-Shirts ($18), Baseball Cap ($22), Knit Hat ($25), 6-pint Insulated Tote ($25), Zeroll Ice Cream Scoop ($24), and Digital Gift Cards.
• Nationwide Ice Cream Shipping Shipping of Bassetts Ice Cream pints to anywhere in the U.S. through Goldbelly and Pennsylvania General Store, with twelve of the most popular flavors and a minimum six-pint order.
• International Ice Cream Licensing Licensed distribution of Bassetts Ice Cream internationally through Beijing Sino-American Food Company in China (4 locations), Mia and Steven Yoon in South Korea (15+ stores), and Mayfull Foods Corporation at seven Hi-Lai Harbour Restaurants in Taiwan.
• Wholesale Distribution Network Wholesale distribution of Bassetts and complementary brands (Turkey Hill, Kemps, Potts, Georgeo's Italian Ices) to restaurants, country clubs, hotels, supermarkets, dipping parlors, and caterers, supported by a dedicated VP of Sales.

Named customers3 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

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GoldbellycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 July 2020Goldbelly is a nationwide shipping partner that allows Bassetts to ship pints anywhere in the U.S. Customers can mix and match from twelve of the most popular flavors with a minimum six-pint order. Goldbelly handles the cold-chain logistics for nationwide delivery.
• goPuffcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 April 2020Partnership with goPuff for instant delivery of Bassetts Ice Cream in the Philadelphia area. Popular flavors are available for delivery through the goPuff app, providing quick access to local customers.
• Six Flags Great AdventureminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2019Bassetts Ice Cream is the official hand-dipped ice cream at Six Flags Great Adventure theme park, providing ice cream service to park visitors.
• TastykakeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 March 2019Collaboration between two iconic Philadelphia brands creating the Bassetts Tastykake Shake (Cookies & Cream ice cream with Tastykake Scoop Shop donuts) and Bassetts Tastykake milkshake featured on FOX 29 and PHL17.
• Mia Yoon and Steven Yoon (Beigel Caffe)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 7 June 2017Grand opening of first Bassetts Ice Cream store in South Korea on June 7, 2017. Mia Yoon (owner of Beigel Caffe chain) and her brother Steven Yoon partnered to bring Bassetts to Korea. More than 15 stores opened since grand opening.
• Beijing Sino-American Food CompanycoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 May 2008Mr. Sun Gongyun (James Sun) established Beijing Sino-American Food Company in 2008 to introduce Bassetts 'World Famous' Ice Cream to China. First container ship order sent May 2008. Four locations currently operating in China, with distribution to restaurants, hotels, and grocery stores.
• Pennsylvania General StoreminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdditional nationwide shipping partner for Bassetts pints, complementing the Goldbelly partnership for customers seeking shipped ice cream products.
• DoorDashminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party delivery platform for local Philadelphia delivery of Bassetts Ice Cream products.
• Uber EatsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party delivery platform for local Philadelphia delivery of Bassetts Ice Cream products.
• MercatominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party delivery platform for local Philadelphia delivery of Bassetts Ice Cream products.
• Mayfull Foods CorporationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTaiwan's leading food importer distributing Bassetts Ice Cream. Products available at seven Hi-Lai Harbour Restaurant locations in Tainan City, Taichung, Taoyuan City, two in Kaohsiung City, and two in Taipei City.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Talenti Gelato: National premium gelato/sorbetto brand now owned by Unilever. Overlaps Bassetts in scoop-shop use cases and supermarket pints, particularly across the broader frozen-dessert category.
• Blue Bunny (Wells Enterprises): Large-scale mass-market ice cream and frozen dessert manufacturer offering the kinds of bulk and novelty SKUs that Bassetts competes against in wholesale and novelty categories.
• Häagen-Dazs: Global super-premium ice cream brand owned by a multinational (Froneri/Nestlé). Sets the price-quality benchmark that Bassetts' 16%+ butterfat positioning competes against, but at vastly greater scale and distribution.

Regional players

• Oberweis Dairy: Family-owned Midwest dairy and ice cream maker with home delivery and scoop shops. Comparable in being a multi-generation family dairy business, though primarily regional to Illinois rather than the Mid-Atlantic.
• Friendly's Ice Cream: Heritage American ice cream and casual-dining brand from the same era as Bassetts. Comparable longevity and family-style brand DNA, though now operating restaurant locations rather than a single flagship retail store.

Direct peers

• Graeter's Ice Cream: Multi-generation family-owned premium ice cream maker founded in 1870, operating scoop shops and wholesale pint distribution. Closely comparable heritage/family business model and super-premium positioning.
• Turkey Hill Dairy: Regional ice cream manufacturer in Pennsylvania whose bulk tubs Bassetts currently distributes. Directly comparable in manufacturing scale, regional concentration, and foodservice channel focus.
• Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams: Super-premium craft ice cream brand with scoop shops, wholesale distribution and D2C shipping. Closely comparable to Bassetts in product quality positioning, flavor depth, and multi-channel distribution.
• Salt & Straw Ice Cream: Small-batch, story-driven premium ice cream with a national scoop-shop footprint and wholesale pints. Similar craft-and-heritage brand positioning to Bassetts, with a focus on unique flavor development.
• Van Leeuwen Ice Cream: Premium craft ice cream brand that has rapidly scaled scoop shops and grocery pints with national distribution. Comparable premium positioning and growing retail/wholesale footprint targeting younger consumers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bassetts_ic
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC36KJquhmBRFazhHTE7yKkg
• Facebookfacebook.com/BassettsIceCream
• Instagraminstagram.com/bassettsicecream
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bassetts-ice-cream-company

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Bassetts Ice Cream