Creamery

What Creamery does

Creamery (also styled as "The Creamery") is a family-owned handcrafted ice cream company founded in 1981 by David Ciarlette in Homer Glen, Illinois. It operates seven retail storefronts across the south and southwest Chicago metropolitan area — Homer Glen, New Lenox, Manhattan, Lemont, Lombard, Orland Square, and Elgin — serving families and individuals seeking small-batch premium ice cream. Beyond scoop shops, the company runs a full-service catering operation with mobile trucks for private parties, corporate retreats, staff appreciation events, and community festivals, plus a wholesale program distributing Creamery-made ice cream to restaurants, venues, and retailers.

The company produces its ice cream in-house using small-batch methods with higher butterfat content and real ingredients, sourcing premium inputs such as Ghiradelli Majestic Cocoa for its Chocolate flavor, Madagascar Bourbon vanilla, and Folklore Coffee for its coffee-based flavors (Daily Grind and the Lemont-exclusive Bigfoot's Brew). Its product portfolio spans three tiers — Creamery Classics, Signature Flavors, and Seasonal Flavors — distributed through retail scoops, pints, 3-gallon tubs, ice cream cakes, colossal cookies, and oversized Colossal Milkshakes (available in Lombard and downtown Lemont). The e-commerce site runs on Shopify with Toasttab powering online ordering, gift card sales, and a customer loyalty program offering points-per-dollar and birthday rewards.

Revenue is generated through five streams: direct retail ice cream sales at company-owned storefronts (cones, cups, pints, 3-gallon tubs), catering and event services with mobile trucks, wholesale distribution to B2B partners (managed by Leah Sisk at [email protected]), gift card and loyalty-driven repeat purchases, and specialty products including ice cream cakes, colossal cookies, and frozen handhelds. Customer segments include individual consumers and families (primary), corporate clients for event catering, and wholesale partner businesses. Marketing relies on Instagram (@our_creamery), Facebook, an email newsletter, and a community-events presence. The company is private, family-owned, and has no disclosed funding rounds, external investors, or AI/ML capabilities in evidence.

Name

Creamery

Legal name

Creamery

Website

https://ourcreamery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Creamery is a family-owned handcrafted ice cream company founded in 1981 in Homer Glen, Illinois, operating seven Chicago-area retail storefronts alongside a mobile catering division, wholesale program, and loyalty program serving families, corporate clients, and B2B partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan Ice Cream

NAICS

Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (311520), Frozen Cakes, Pies, and Other Pastries Manufacturing (311813)

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 Dairy Wholesale (AFAIAEAF), Ice Cream Cakes & Frozen Dessert Bakery Manufacturing (AFAHAEAH)

Keywords

• Handcrafted ice cream
• Small batch ice cream
• Ice cream retail
• Ice cream catering
• Frozen desserts

Headquarters

HQ city

Homer Glen

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, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Retail Ice Cream Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of handcrafted ice cream through company-owned retail locations, including cones, cups, pints, and 3-gallon tubs
2. Catering & Events: Full-service catering for private parties, corporate retreats, staff appreciation events, and community festivals with mobile ice cream trucks and customizable packages
3. Wholesale Program: B2B wholesale distribution of Creamery-made ice cream to other businesses for resale or menu inclusion
4. Gift Cards & Loyalty: Gift card sales and customer rewards program driving repeat purchases
5. Specialty Products: Sale of specialty items including ice cream cakes, colossal cookies, and frozen handhelds

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Creamery produces and sells handcrafted, small-batch ice cream through seven company-owned retail storefronts across the Chicago metropolitan area. Its offerings include classic, signature, and seasonal ice cream flavors in multiple formats (3-gallon tubs, pints, and round cakes), along with Colossal Milkshakes and frozen Colossal Cookies. The company also provides full-service event catering with a mobile truck fleet and operates a wholesale program distributing its ice cream to other businesses.

Product overview

Creamery is a family-owned ice cream company established in 1981 in south Chicago, operating as a multi-location retail chain with a full-service catering division. The company produces ice cream in-house with higher butterfat, real ingredients, and small-batch production. Its core product portfolio consists of handcrafted ice cream offered across three tiers: Creamery Classics (Chocolate, Vanilla, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Cookies & Creamery, Farmstand Strawberry, Moo Moo Mint Chip), Signature Flavors (Banana Graham, Birthday Bash, Carnival Cloud, Cinnamon Crunch, Daily Grind, Fudge Brownie Delite, Holy Cow PB Cup, Jammin' Raspberry Chip, Mema's Butter Pecan, Sea Salt Caramel Truffle), and Seasonal Flavors (Bigfoot's Brew, Tailgate at Jimmy's). Products are sold in multiple formats including 3-gallon tubs (wholesale/events), individual pints, and Signature Round Ice Cream Cakes. Additional offerings include Colossal Milkshakes, Frozen Handheld Colossal Cookies, a customer Rewards & SMS Program, Gift Cards, and Catering & Events Services for private parties, corporate retreats, and festivals with customizable packages. The company also operates a wholesale program for restaurants and retailers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Handcrafted Ice Cream (Classics, Signature, and Seasonal Flavors) Premium handcrafted, small-batch ice cream produced in-house using higher butterfat content and real ingredients, offered across three flavor tiers (Creamery Classics, Signature Flavors, and Seasonal offerings) using premium inputs such as Ghiradelli Majestic Cocoa and Folklore Coffee. Sold to retail consumers via scoop shops, and to wholesale partners for menu use.
• 3-Gallon Tubs Bulk ice cream tubs in all classic, signature, and seasonal flavors, available for wholesale partners, events, and catering use.
• Pints Individual pint-sized servings of Creamery handcrafted ice cream, available in all classic, signature, and seasonal flavors.
• Signature Round Ice Cream Cakes Round ice cream cakes in multiple flavor varieties for celebrations and special occasions.
• Colossal Milkshakes Oversized milkshakes available at Creamery's Lombard and downtown Lemont scoop shop locations.
• Colossal Cookies (Frozen Handhelds) Frozen handheld Colossal Cookies in multiple varieties, sold in cases of 24, for retail and foodservice use.
• Catering & Events Services Full-service catering for private parties, corporate retreats, staff appreciation events, and community festivals, featuring an expanding mobile ice cream truck fleet and customizable packages including dessert bars and individually packaged treats.
• Wholesale Program B2B wholesale distribution of Creamery-made ice cream to restaurants, venues, and retailers for resale or menu inclusion.
• Gift Cards Gift cards redeemable at all Creamery retail locations across the Chicago metropolitan area.
• Rewards & SMS Loyalty Program Customer loyalty and rewards program offering points per dollar spent, a $5 reward at 50 points, birthday month treats, and SMS opt-in for exclusive discounts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Handcrafted ice cream with higher butterfat + real ingredients + small batch production = less air

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Folklore CoffeeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoffee partnership for flavor development - Folklore Coffee is used in Daily Grind and Bigfoot's Brew ice cream flavors. Daily Grind features smooth coffee ice cream infused with Folklore coffee for a bold, roasted finish. Bigfoot's Brew Lemont exclusive flavor uses Folklore Coffee's Bigfoot Blend beans.
• GhiradelliminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremium cocoa supplier - Ghiradelli Majestic Cocoa is used in the Chocolate ice cream flavor for a deep, smooth chocolate flavor.
• ToasttabcoreTechnology or IntegrationToasttab provides online ordering platform for gift cards and rewards program across all Creamery locations. Gift cards are redeemable at all locations and can be purchased at https://www.toasttab.com/creamery-homer-glen/giftcards.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Oberweis Dairy: Chicago-area dairy and ice-cream chain with company-owned retail locations and a complementary foodservice operation. Its regional footprint, premium frozen desserts, and vertically integrated brand make it the closest local comparator.
• Graeter's Ice Cream: Family-owned premium ice-cream brand with scoop shops, packaged products, and wholesale distribution. Its craft positioning, regional heritage, and multichannel model closely resemble Creamery's.
• Marble Slab Creamery: Franchised premium ice-cream chain with made-to-order mixing at retail counters. Its storefront model and premium customer experience closely align with Creamery's shop operations.
• Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams: Premium handcrafted ice-cream brand with scoop shops, packaged online sales, and wholesale distribution. It is comparable through product quality, differentiated flavors, and a growing mix of physical and packaged channels.
• Cold Stone Creamery: Large franchised scoop-shop chain centered on made-to-order ice cream. It directly competes for the same customer occasion and shop format, but operates nationally with a more standardized, customization-led proposition.
• Kilwins Chocolates, Fudge & Ice Cream: Franchised specialty retailer combining premium ice cream, chocolates, and fudge through physical storefronts. It is comparable through its premium in-person dessert experience, although its assortment extends beyond frozen dairy.
• Bruster's Ice Cream: Specialty ice-cream franchise with retail stores and a wholesale program. It offers a closely aligned store format, customer occasion, and distribution model, though it relies on franchising rather than a single regional family ownership structure.
• Salt & Straw: Premium, creatively flavored small-batch ice-cream brand sold through scoop shops and packaged formats. It is highly comparable on craft quality, flavor innovation, and experiential positioning.

Emerging players

• Van Leeuwen Ice Cream: Premium ice-cream brand spanning scoop shops, packaged pints, and foodservice or wholesale channels. Its premium positioning and expansion through multiple formats overlap strongly with Creamery's ambitions.

Broad incumbents

• Dairy Queen: National frozen-dessert and quick-service chain with a broad retail footprint and extensive franchise system. It competes for the core ice-cream occasion, but is substantially larger and offers a broader food menu.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ourcreamery
• Instagraminstagram.com/our_creamery
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/creamery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Creamery