Hansens

What Hansens does

Hansens Is is a Danish organic ice cream producer operating as both a dairy and ice cream factory at a single site in Jægerspris, Denmark. Founded in 1922 by Hans Hansen, the company is currently operated by fourth-generation brothers Rasmus and Anders Hansen, who assumed control in 2010. Hansens produces a full portfolio of organic ice cream — ice pops, scoop ice cream, cups, ice cream mix (Iscreme) for professionals, and ice cream cakes — using fresh organic milk from local Danish farms (notably Svanholm under a 2011 full-milk agreement) and direct-trace ingredients including vanilla and cocoa from its own project in Kayunga, Uganda, chocolate processed by world champion Mikkel Friis Holm, and Sicilian and Calabrian fruit and nuts from named partner families.

The company became fully organic across its product range in 2017 and is the only ice cream producer in Denmark with a 100% organic assortment. Core production follows traditional 1922 methods: slow heating of ingredients, overnight maturation, and processing through ice machines, with no skimmed milk powder, artificial flavors, or colorings. Approximately 20% of electricity at the Jægerspris facility is generated from company-owned solar cells installed in 2022.

Hansens operates a dual go-to-market model. It sells wholesale to a fragmented B2B reseller network across Denmark — ice houses, kiosks, cafes, hotels, restaurants, cantinas, mobile units, festivals and garden centers — via a B2B contact form with active dealer recruitment. Direct-to-consumer sales are generated through the seasonally operated Hansens Iscafé on the Jægerspris site. The company markets primarily through organic social media (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn), an annual Impact Report, and a branded cycling event (Hansens Cykelløb). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and all commercial engagements are individually negotiated.

Name

Hansens

Legal name

Hansens Is

Website

https://hansens-is.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hansens Is is a Danish, fourth-generation family-owned organic ice cream producer based in Jægerspris, manufacturing 100% organic ice cream from fresh local milk and direct-trade ingredients, and selling via a B2B reseller network across Denmark and its own seasonal ice café.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Organic Ice Cream Manufacturing

NAICS

Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (31152), Dairy Product Manufacturing (3115), Frozen Cakes, Pies, and Other Pastries Manufacturing (311813)

SIC

Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024), Dairy Products (2020)

akta.pro primary industry

Ice Cream, Frozen Desserts & Novelties Manufacturing (AFAKAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dairy-Based Frozen Novelties Manufacturing (Bars, Sandwiches, Cones) (AFAHAEAG), Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts Wholesale (AFAIAHAC), Ice Cream & Refrigerated Desserts (CRADACAE)

Keywords

• Organic ice cream production
• Artisanal dairy products
• Ice cream manufacturing
• Frozen dessert wholesale
• Premium organic confectionery

Headquarters

HQ city

Jægerspris

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. B2B Ice Cream Sales: Hansens sells ice cream wholesale to retailers including ice houses, kiosks, cafes, hotels, restaurants, cantinas, and event operators. They offer products in various formats including scoops, ice pops, cones, and buckets.
2. Direct Consumer Sales (Ice Café): Hansens operates their own ice cream café (Hansens Iscafé) open from April 7, 2026 to autumn holidays, serving customers directly Tuesday through Sunday 12-17.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hansens manufactures and sells 100% organic ice cream products — ice pops, scoops, cups, ice cream cakes, and ice cream mix — at its dairy and ice cream factory in Jægerspris, Denmark, using traditional methods preserved since the company's founding in 1922. Products are produced in-house from organic milk sourced from local Danish farms and from ingredients sourced directly from international organic suppliers, with on-site cocoa bean fermentation for chocolate flavors.

Product overview

Hansens is a Danish organic ice cream company operating as both a dairy and ice cream factory. Founded in 1922, the company is now in its fourth generation of family ownership (brothers Rasmus and Anders). Hansens produces a comprehensive portfolio of ice cream products organized into five main categories: Ispinde (ice pops/sticks) including novelty items like O'Payo, Solstang, Rødgrød, and Mads Nørgaard Pop collaboration; Scoop ice cream sold by the portion; Cup (Bæger) ice cream servings; Iscreme (ice cream mix for professionals); and Islagkage (ice cream cakes). All products are 100% organic, using fresh milk from local organic farms, vanilla from their own farm in Uganda, chocolate from world champion Mikkel Friis Holm, and other premium ingredients sourced directly from suppliers. The company also offers B2B/dealer partnerships for restaurants, kiosks, cafes, hotels, and events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ice Pops

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% organic product line since 2017
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Mads NørgaardminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration with Danish fashion designer Mads Nørgaard resulting in Mads Nørgaard Pop ice cream - an organic and vegan product launched in 2025. The collaboration is based on shared values about Danish and transparent production.
• SvanholmcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Revolutionary 2011 agreement where all milk from Svanholm (one of Denmark's largest organic farms) is delivered directly to Hansens dairy. This was the first full milk agreement between a farm and ice producer in Danish history.
• Friis Holm ChokoladecoreTechnology or IntegrationHansens sends their selected cocoa beans to Friis Holm Chokolade in Herslev for shelling, roasting and conching. Friis Holm is one of the world's most awarded chocolate makers. The process takes 7 days from raw bean to finished chocolate - about 10 times longer than industrial production. Hansens also sources chocolate made by Friis Holm for their ice cream products including O'Payo, Mynte/Chokolade, and Straciatella.
• Di Bartolo family (Sicily)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHansens has a partnership with Sicilian family business Di Bartolo specializing in citrus fruits and nuts. They source pistachios from Bronte (DOP certified), hazelnuts from Piemonte, pecans, almonds, lemon juice, and almond cream. The partnership began 9 years ago when Rasmus and Anders met Di Bartolo at the organic trade show in Nuremberg.
• Massarotto family (Kalabrien, Syd Italien)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHansens sources organic licorice from Massarotto family in Calabria, southern Italy, where licorice root cultivation has been practiced since the 1800s. The licorice is rich, dark and intense in flavor, perfect for Hansens' organic licorice ice cream.
• Harald Krabbe (Frederiksdal, Lolland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHarald Krabbe is third generation cherry farmer at Frederiksdal on Lolland. The partnership involves upcycling Sur Lie (wine sediment) from cherry wine production into a deep and intense cherry sauce for Hansens' Mandel/Kirsebær winter ice cream.
• Kafferisteriet NordnavnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKafferisteriet Nordnavn brews 6,000 fresh espressos for Hansens' Mokka ice cream. Beans are carefully selected for the best coffee experience, and fresh ground coffee is added to the ice cream for good coffee crunch.
• Ugandan Vanilla Farmers (Kayunga)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2018, Hansens started their own vanilla project in Uganda with vanilla farms in Kayunga. Hansens is involved in all details from working conditions to orchid pollination and vanilla bean fermentation. Vanilla beans are also sorted and fermented on the local farm alongside cocoa beans.
• Ugandan Cocoa FarmerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2020, Hansens has been buying cocoa beans directly from farmers in Uganda. The beans are sourced from small local organic producers in the Kayunga area. Rasmus and Anders personally travel to meet farmers and discuss their cocoa beans - direct trade with transparency.
• Thomas HermanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichelin-chef Thomas Herman collaborated with Hansens to develop Rødgrød ice cream, masterfully refining the flavor in traditional Danish desserts. The ice cream features a core of sweet and tangy rødgrød inside organic cream ice.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Gelato Messina: Australian premium artisan gelato and ice cream brand with own retail stores, B2B wholesale, and cult following for innovative flavors. Directly comparable to Hansens in craft positioning, brand-led product development, and combined retail/wholesale distribution.
• Paradis Is: Danish ice cream producer selling scoop ice cream, ice cream cakes, and ice pops through retail and B2B channels in Denmark. Most direct competitor to Hansens in the Danish market, sharing the same geography, customer base (ice houses, kiosks), and product categories.
• Premier Is: Danish regional ice cream manufacturer based in Kolding producing traditional and premium ice cream for retail and foodservice. Comparable to Hansens in B2B wholesale model, Danish heritage, and mid-sized artisan positioning.
• Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams: US-based artisan ice cream company with retail scoop shops, direct-to-consumer channel, and premium B2B wholesale. Highly comparable to Hansens in small-batch production, premium positioning, and combined DTC-retail/wholesale model.
• Emmett's Ice Cream: UK-based artisan ice cream company operating own scoop shops with premium flavors and B2B supply to restaurants. Directly comparable to Hansens in small-batch craft production, café-retail model, and HoReCa supply.

Broad incumbents

• Carte d'Or: Premium European ice cream brand owned by Unilever, distributed via grocery and foodservice across Europe including Denmark. Comparable to Hansens as a competing premium ice cream offering in the same Danish retail landscape, but at industrial scale without the organic/handcraft positioning.
• Ben & Jerry's: Premium ethical ice cream brand owned by Unilever, known for values-driven positioning, fair-trade sourcing, and creative flavor lineup. Closely comparable to Hansens in combining premium quality with social/environmental mission, though at significantly larger global scale.
• Haagen-Dazs: Global premium ice cream brand owned by Nestlé, operating at scale with broad retail and foodservice distribution. Comparable to Hansens as a premium-positioned ice cream brand, though Hansens differentiates through artisanal organic production versus Haagen-Dazs' mass-market premium approach. Notably, the predecessor Frederiksborg Is was sold to Nestlé (Haagen-Dazs' parent).

Others

• Summerbird Organic: Danish premium organic chocolate-covered almonds and confections company. Comparable to Hansens in Danish organic premium positioning and use of Friis Holm chocolate in some products, but operates in adjacent confectionery rather than ice cream.

Regional players

• Ismejeriet Enghave: Small Danish artisan dairy producing ice cream and dairy products from own farm. Closely comparable to Hansens in artisan dairy-plus-ice cream model and Danish organic positioning, though at smaller scale and different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hansensis
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hansens-is
• Instagraminstagram.com/hansensis

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 Hansens