Lappert's Ice Cream
Lappert's Ice Cream, Inc. is a family-owned super premium ice cream and gourmet coffee company, founded in 1983, serving individual consumers through 12 retail stores across California and Las Vegas, exclusive reseller partnerships, and online coffee sales.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersSausalito, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Lappert's Ice Cream does
Lappert's Ice Cream, Inc. is a family-owned super premium ice cream and gourmet coffee producer founded in 1983 by Walter Lappert in Sausalito, California. The company manufactures ice cream at its Richmond, California facility (opened in 1984) and sells a portfolio of 20+ signature and rotating flavors — including Kauai Pie, Kona Coffee, Hawaiian Sea Salt Caramel, Ube Macapuno, Lychee, and Horchata Cajeta — formulated with organic and natural ingredients such as organic Bourbon vanilla, Hawaiian macadamia nuts, and Guittard chocolate. A gourmet coffee line (Kauai Pie, French Roast, Vanilla Macadamia Nut) is sold in 12oz and 5lb bags.
The company operates as a hybrid direct-to-consumer and channel-partner business. Direct channels include 12 company-owned retail locations concentrated in California (Sausalito, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Santa Monica Pier, Los Gatos, Carson, Monterey, Larkspur, San Bruno, Redlands) and Las Vegas, NV (California Hotel & Casino), plus a lapperts.com e-commerce storefront that sells coffee online (ice cream is not available for online purchase). Channel partners include exclusive independent retailers such as Margot's Ice Cream Parlor in San Juan Bautista, entertainment venues (Pacific Park Santa Monica Pier, Lark Theater, Osio Theater), and the branded authorized retailer 'Lappert's Ice Cream of Redlands.' Premium positioning is reflected in coffee price points of $9.65–$62.25 per unit.
Lappert's Ice Cream, Inc. is a separate legal entity from Lappert's Hawaii despite the shared founder, and it restricts its geographic footprint to the continental United States (Hawaii is explicitly not served). The company remains under family control, with Michael Lappert serving as president and third-generation Isaac Lappert (a Culinary Institute graduate) contributing to new flavor development. There is no public listing, no disclosed external funding, and no M&A history. Headcount is reported in the 11–50 range, consistent with a small, privately-held specialty CPG operator.
Lappert's Ice Cream firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lappert's Ice Cream
- Legal name
- Lappert's Ice Cream, Inc.
- Website
- https://lapperts.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Lappert's Ice Cream, Inc. is a family-owned super premium ice cream and gourmet coffee company, founded in 1983, serving individual consumers through 12 retail stores across California and Las Vegas, exclusive reseller partnerships, and online coffee sales.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lappert's Ice Cream 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), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ice Cream, Frozen Desserts & Novelties Manufacturing (AFAKAKAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Ice Cream & Refrigerated Desserts (CRADACAE), Ice Cream & Gelato Shops (THAFAGAA)
Keywords
Where Lappert's Ice Cream is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sausalito
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices8 records
Markets served
Lappert's Ice Cream business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Ice Cream Retail Sales: Direct retail sales of super premium ice cream through company-owned stores and third-party retailer partnerships. Products sold include signature flavors such as Kauai Pie, Kona Coffee, Hawaiian Sea Salt Caramel, and rotating seasonal flavors.
- Gourmet Coffee Sales: E-commerce sales of gourmet coffee beans in 12oz and 5lb bags. Coffee flavors complement ice cream offerings (Kauai Pie, Vanilla Macadamia Nut, French Roast, Home For The Holidays).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 12oz Coffee Bags - Individual consumer portion sizes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 5lb Coffee Bags - Bulk/gift sizes |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Ice Cream - Not available for online purchase |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Lappert's Ice Cream product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lappert's Ice Cream manufactures super premium ice cream featuring distinctive, globally-inspired rotating flavors (e.g., Kauai Pie, Hawaiian Sea Salt Caramel, Ube Macapuno, Lychee, Kona Coffee) at its Richmond, California facility, and distributes them through company-owned retail stores across California and Las Vegas, independent retailers, and entertainment-venue partners. The company also produces and direct-sells gourmet coffee (Kauai Pie, French Roast, Vanilla Macadamia Nut, Home For The Holidays) online in 12 oz and 5 lb bags for home consumption.
Product overview
Lappert's Ice Cream Inc. is a super premium ice cream and gourmet coffee company offering two core product lines. The ice cream features world-famous distinctive rotating flavors made with high-quality ingredients like organic vanilla, Hawaiian macadamia nuts, and premium chocolate. The coffee line includes Kauai Pie Coffee (their #1 seller, a Kona blend with chocolate, macadamia, and coconut), French Roast, and Vanilla Macadamia Nut varieties available in 12 oz and 5 lb bags. Both products can be purchased online and are available at retail store locations across California and Nevada.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Super Premium Ice Cream Super premium ice cream featuring world-famous, distinctive, globally-inspired rotating flavors (e.g., Kauai Pie, Hawaiian Sea Salt Caramel, Praline Pecan, Rum Raisin, Macadamia Nut, Kona Mocha Chip, Ube Macapuno, Lychee, Horchata Cajeta, Date Casablanca, Kona Coffee), made with organic and natural ingredients including Organic Bourbon Vanilla, organic macadamia nut essence, Australian macadamia nuts, and Guittard chocolate. Sold at company-owned retail stores in California and Las Vegas and through authorized retailers and entertainment-venue partners.
- Gourmet Coffee Gourmet coffee products sold in 12 oz, 5 lb, and 15 lb bags, including Kauai Pie Coffee (Kona blend with chocolate, macadamia and coconut, the company's #1 seller), French Roast Coffee (full-bodied dark roast), Vanilla Macadamia Nut Coffee (flavored with Madagascar/Tahiti vanilla and Australian macadamia), and Home For The Holidays Coffee. Available for direct online purchase and at company-owned retail stores.
- Coffee Mugs Branded coffee mugs sold as merchandise.
Companies that use Lappert's Ice Cream
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Lappert's Ice Cream technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Lappert's Ice Cream partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Margot's Ice Cream Parlor (Margot Tankersley)coreIndependent ice cream parlor in San Juan Bautista, CA operating as an exclusive reseller of Lappert's Ice Cream. Partnership established approximately 21 years ago when approached by a Lappert's salesman. Custom flavor adaptations developed specifically for the store including 'Kayla's Almond Crunch' ice cream and modified versions of standard flavors (e.g., Big Cherry Cordial without chocolate chips). The shop also sells Lappert's coffee and espresso products.
- Margot's Ice Cream ParlorcoreRetail location at 211 Third Street, San Juan Bautista CA 95045. Phone: (831) 623-9262.
- Pacific Park Santa Monica Pier - Scoops Ice Cream and TreatsminorEntertainment venue partner at 380 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401. Phone: (310) 260-8744 ext 225.
- Lark TheaterminorTheater partner at 549 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur, CA 94939. Phone: 415 924-5111.
- Osio TheaterminorTheater partner at 350 Alvarado Street, Monterey, CA 93940. Phone: (831) 901-3119.
- Rosy YogurtminorRetail partner at 464 N Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos, California. Phone: (408) 395-1150.
- TastyBlock Hawaiian Shave Ice & Ice CreamminorRetail partner at 22815 S. Figueroa St., Carson, CA 90745. Phone: 310-847-5500.
- Sweet ConnectionsminorRetail partner at 430 San Mateo Ave, San Bruno, CA 94066.
- Lappert's Ice Cream of RedlandsminorAuthorized retailer at 206 E State Street, Redlands, CA 92373. Phone: (909) 894-3400. Website: www.lappertsredlands.com
- California Hotel & Casino (Las Vegas)minorHotel casino partner hosting Lappert's Ice Cream location in Las Vegas, NV.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Lappert's Ice Cream competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Coolhaus: Coolhaus is a smaller, design-driven premium ice cream brand with scoop shops and D2C pints; comparable to Lappert's on flavor experimentation, scoop shop retail format, and premium positioning but operates at smaller scale.
- Blue Star Donuts: Blue Star is a Pacific Northwest premium dessert brand with retail storefronts analogous to Lappert's boutique retail model; comparable on small-footprint, premium-retail positioning and rotating menu innovation, though it competes in a different dessert category.
Direct peers
- McConnell's Fine Ice Creams: McConnell's is a California-based, family-origin super-premium ice cream maker with scoop shops and pint distribution; closely comparable to Lappert's on regional California roots, premium ingredients, and family-heritage brand story.
- Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams: Jeni's is a direct competitor in the super-premium, flavor-forward scoop shop category with company-owned retail plus nationwide pint shipping; highly comparable to Lappert's on distinctive rotating flavors, DTC e-commerce, and premium positioning.
- Salt & Straw: Salt & Straw operates scoop shops and ships pints nationwide with quirky, small-batch flavors — directly competing with Lappert's for the same super-premium, experience-driven consumer through company-owned retail and creative flavor menus.
- Häagen-Dazs: Häagen-Dazs is the original super-premium ice cream brand, occupying the same premium price tier as Lappert's and selling through both retail and scoop shops; directly comparable on product positioning, flavor innovation, and brand-led marketing.
Broad incumbents
- Peet's Coffee: Peet's is an established specialty coffee roaster with direct-to-consumer online bag sales (12oz and bulk), directly comparable to Lappert's gourmet coffee e-commerce business on product format, pack sizes, and D2C model.
- Talenti Gelato: Talenti is a scale super-premium/specialty ice cream brand acquired by Unilever, sold primarily through grocery; competes with Lappert's for the same super-premium pint consumer but at far greater distribution scale.
- Baskin-Robbins: Baskin-Robbins is the dominant ice cream specialty retail chain in the U.S.; operates the same scoop shop model as Lappert's company-owned retail locations, but competes on scale, franchising, and broad flavor variety rather than premium positioning.
Regional players
- Straus Family Creamery: Straus is a Northern California organic dairy producer with a small premium ice cream line; comparable to Lappert's on regional California roots, organic/quality ingredient positioning, and family/founder identity.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Lappert's Ice Cream financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lappert's Ice Cream leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Lappert's Ice Cream funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lappert's Ice Cream 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 Lappert's Ice Cream
What does Lappert's Ice Cream do?
Lappert's Ice Cream manufactures super premium ice cream featuring distinctive, globally-inspired rotating flavors (e.g., Kauai Pie, Hawaiian Sea Salt Caramel, Ube Macapuno, Lychee, Kona Coffee) at its Richmond, California facility, and distributes them through company-owned retail stores across California and Las Vegas, independent retailers, and entertainment-venue partners. The company also produces and direct-sells gourmet coffee (Kauai Pie, French Roast, Vanilla Macadamia Nut, Home For The Holidays) online in 12 oz and 5 lb bags for home consumption.
Is Lappert's Ice Cream a public or private company?
Lappert's Ice Cream is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Lappert's Ice Cream founded?
Lappert's Ice Cream was founded in 1983. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Lappert's Ice Cream based?
Lappert's Ice Cream is headquartered in Sausalito, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lappert's Ice Cream make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Ice Cream Retail Sales are the primary driver. The others are gourmet Coffee Sales.
Who are Lappert's Ice Cream's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Coolhaus and Blue Star Donuts. Direct peers are McConnell's Fine Ice Creams, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, Salt & Straw and Häagen-Dazs. Broad incumbents are Peet's Coffee, Talenti Gelato and Baskin-Robbins. Straus Family Creamery is listed as a regional player.
Does Lappert's Ice Cream have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lappert's Ice Cream.
What industry is Lappert's Ice Cream in?
Lappert's Ice Cream's product category is Premium Ice Cream. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAKAKAE, Ice Cream, Frozen Desserts & Novelties Manufacturing, with a secondary code of CRADACAE, Ice Cream & Refrigerated Desserts. Its NAICS code is 311520 and its SIC code is 2024.