Mr Whippy
Mr Whippy is a privately held New Zealand franchise business operating a nationwide network of mobile soft serve ice cream vans since 1964, selling exclusive territorial franchises and serving soft serve ice cream at events, festivals, schools, and street locations across the country.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1964
- HeadquartersAuckland, New Zealand
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Mr Whippy does
Mr Whippy is a privately held New Zealand franchise business that operates a nationwide network of mobile soft serve ice cream vans under a single iconic brand established in New Zealand in 1964. The company sells exclusive territorial franchises — priced between NZD $35,000 and $50,000 for a 6-year term — to independent owner-operators who run Ford Transit vans outfitted with Carpigiani soft serve dispensing machines across all New Zealand regions from Northland to Southland. Franchisees generate revenue by selling Mr Whippy's signature 90% fat-free vanilla soft serve (produced at 4°C, approximately 200 calories per single serve) at private events including birthdays, weddings, corporate functions, sporting events, and music festivals, as well as through regular neighborhood street runs.
The franchisor's central revenue streams include upfront franchise license fees, an online branded merchandise store (t-shirts, hoodies, tea towels, tote bags, children's items), and central event-booking coordination handled through the website and the 0800 4 WHIPPY phone line. Marketing relies on organic brand recognition driven by the distinctive red-and-white van livery and the owned Greensleeves chime that plays as vans arrive in neighborhoods — assets the company has cultivated since 1964. The company was acquired by the Graham family in 2006 from the Woodhams family, who in turn had bought it from Tip Top in the early 2000s; Mr Whippy became a franchise system in the early 1980s under Tip Top's stewardship.
Mr Whippy NZ is operationally distinct from the Australian and UK Mr Whippy entities and is locally Kiwi-owned. The headquarters sits on Waiheke Island in Auckland. Brand extensions have been limited and experimental, including a Duncans Brewing beer-flavored ice cream collaboration showcased at Beervana. There are no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, no proprietary software platform beyond a standard website and e-commerce storefront, no disclosed funding rounds, and no publicly reported revenue or headcount figures — consistent with a small, mature, family-controlled franchise operator.
Mr Whippy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mr Whippy
- Legal name
- Mr Whippy
- Website
- https://mrwhippy.co.nz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1964
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Mr Whippy is a privately held New Zealand franchise business operating a nationwide network of mobile soft serve ice cream vans since 1964, selling exclusive territorial franchises and serving soft serve ice cream at events, festivals, schools, and street locations across the country.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mr Whippy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mobile Soft Serve Ice Cream
- NAICS
- Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (311520)
- SIC
- Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mobile Dessert Vendors (Ice Cream/Dessert Trucks & Carts) (THAFAHAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Soft-Serve Ice Cream Mix Manufacturing (AFAHAEAB)
Keywords
Where Mr Whippy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Auckland
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Mr Whippy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Franchise Fees: Mr Whippy generates revenue from franchise fees. Franchise opportunities range from $35,000 to $50,000 for a 6-year exclusive territorial license. Franchisees operate their own vans and businesses within their assigned territories.
- Ice Cream Sales: Revenue is generated through direct ice cream sales to consumers at events, street runs, and venues across New Zealand. Franchisees sell soft serve ice cream in various serving formats including cones and tubs.
- Merchandise Sales: Mr Whippy sells branded merchandise including t-shirts, jerseys, tea towels, tote bags, hoodies, and children's items through their online merchandise store.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Standard Franchise Territory |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Mr Whippy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mr Whippy produces and sells soft serve ice cream from mobile Ford Transit vans operated by franchisees across New Zealand. The company licenses exclusive territorial franchise rights to independent operators who serve the 90% fat-free ice cream (made with New Zealand dairy) directly to consumers at events, street runs, and venues. Revenue comes from franchise fees, ice cream sales, and branded merchandise.
Product overview
Mr Whippy is a franchise-based mobile soft serve ice cream business offering a single unified product: soft serve ice cream served from branded vans at events and street locations across New Zealand. The product portfolio consists of the core Mr Whippy Soft Serve Ice Cream (dispensed from Ford Transit vans with distinctive Greensleeves chimes), complemented by franchise opportunities for independent operators to run their own territories, an online merchandise store selling branded apparel and collectibles, and event booking services for private and corporate occasions. The business operates on a franchise model where owner/operators hold exclusive territorial rights and bring the iconic treat to communities nationwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mr Whippy Soft Serve Ice Cream Vanilla-flavoured soft serve ice cream dispensed from machines in franchise-owned Ford Transit vans. Made from skim milk and cream, 90% fat free, with less sugar than other ice creams; approximately 200 calories per single serve. Produced at 4°C for enhanced flavour detection and easier consumption.
- Mr Whippy Event Booking Service Mobile ice cream van hire for events including birthday parties, weddings, corporate functions, sporting events, music festivals, school fetes, sports clubs, and retirement villages. Bookings via website or by calling 0800 4 WHIPPY.
- Mr Whippy Franchise (Exclusive Territorial License) Franchise opportunities for operating Mr Whippy ice cream vans in exclusive territories across New Zealand. Franchise investment ranges from $35,000 to $50,000 for a 6-year term. Owner-operators run their own local businesses under the Mr Whippy brand.
- Mr Whippy Branded Merchandise Official Mr Whippy branded merchandise including t-shirts, jerseys, tea towels, tote bags, hoodies, and children's items, sold online via the Mr Whippy Merchandise Store.
Quantifiable outcome
- Soft serve ice cream is produced at 4°C compared to rolled ice cream at -15°C, allowing better flavour detection
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Mr Whippy
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Mr Whippy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Mr Whippy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Duncans BrewingminorMr Whippy collaborated with Duncans Brewing on a beer and ice cream crossover product - a beer ice cream flavor collaboration featured at Beervana. This represents a creative brand partnership to develop unique product flavors.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Mr Whippy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mr Softee: The original US mobile soft-serve ice cream franchise that directly inspired Mr Whippy in 1958. Operates the same mobile van/event-based soft-serve model and is the closest functional peer globally.
- Baskin-Robbins: Global franchise-based ice cream chain with presence in NZ and Australia. Comparable as a multi-outlet, branded-franchise ice cream concept serving impulse and occasion occasions, though predominantly retail rather than mobile.
- New Zealand Natural Ice Cream: NZ-founded franchise ice cream chain offering scooped and soft-serve products through franchised outlets. Closest NZ-based direct franchise competitor to Mr Whippy for impulse ice cream occasions.
- Cold Stone Creamery: US-founded franchise ice cream concept built on customizable mix-ins. Comparable as a globally scaled, franchise-led ice cream brand competing for celebration and impulse occasions.
Broad incumbents
- Tip Top Ice Cream: New Zealand's largest domestic ice cream brand, owned by Froneri. Historically ran the Mr Whippy franchise in NZ in the 1980s and remains the dominant packaged ice cream incumbent across grocery and foodservice in the same market.
- Dairy Queen: Global franchise ice cream chain with soft serve as its signature product (the Blizzard, Dilly Bar). Closest large-scale franchise operator using soft serve as a hero SKU and offers comparable brand-led expansion potential.
- Ben & Jerry's: Global premium ice cream brand with strong NZ/AU retail presence and an event/catering business. Comparable as an iconic, values-led ice cream brand competing for the same event and impulse occasions.
Regional players
- Kapiti Ice Cream: Premium New Zealand dairy-based ice cream brand using NZ-sourced ingredients — similar provenance-driven positioning to Mr Whippy's NZ-dairy soft serve — though sold through retail and foodservice rather than via mobile vans.
Emerging players
- Giapo Ice Cream: Auckland-based artisan ice cream maker known for premium, design-forward scooped ice cream. Competes for the high-end event and wedding segment that Mr Whippy also targets.
Others
- Carpigiani: Italian manufacturer of soft serve and gelato machines — historical supplier to Mr Whippy since the UK founding in 1958. Comparable as the enabling equipment supplier for the soft serve category in which Mr Whippy operates.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Mr Whippy social profiles
Digital presenceMr Whippy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mr Whippy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Mr Whippy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mr Whippy 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 Mr Whippy
What does Mr Whippy do?
Mr Whippy produces and sells soft serve ice cream from mobile Ford Transit vans operated by franchisees across New Zealand. The company licenses exclusive territorial franchise rights to independent operators who serve the 90% fat-free ice cream (made with New Zealand dairy) directly to consumers at events, street runs, and venues. Revenue comes from franchise fees, ice cream sales, and branded merchandise.
Is Mr Whippy a public or private company?
Mr Whippy is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Mr Whippy founded?
Mr Whippy was founded in 1964. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Mr Whippy based?
Mr Whippy is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Mr Whippy make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Franchise Fees are the primary driver. The others are ice Cream Sales and merchandise Sales.
Who are Mr Whippy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mr Softee, Baskin-Robbins, New Zealand Natural Ice Cream and Cold Stone Creamery. Broad incumbents are Tip Top Ice Cream, Dairy Queen and Ben & Jerry's. Kapiti Ice Cream is listed as a regional player. Giapo Ice Cream is listed as an emerging player. Carpigiani is listed as an others.
Does Mr Whippy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mr Whippy.
What industry is Mr Whippy in?
Mr Whippy's product category is Mobile Soft Serve Ice Cream. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFAHAG, Mobile Dessert Vendors (Ice Cream/Dessert Trucks & Carts), with a secondary code of AFAHAEAB, Soft-Serve Ice Cream Mix Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 311520 and its SIC code is 2024.