Ice cream sales soar as big freeze continues

Graham and Chris Daniels opened Archer's Jersey Ice Cream just days before Arctic conditions hit the North-East with several feet of snow and temperatures dipping to a bone-chilling minus 15.

They experienced some of the country's worst blizzards and feared that the last food people would buy in the sub-zero conditions would be ice cream.

58-year-old Graham has seen dozens of families in the parlour and believes ice cream offers a cheap option as people make cutbacks.

He has even seen hungry children grabbing cones and taking them and sampling them while hurtling down ice-covered hills on sledges.

‘It's great to see the kids enjoying themselves with our ice creams. Lots of children have a sweet tooth and that doesn't go away even when it's so cold,’ said Graham.

‘Now they are on their holidays they have been coming in for an ice cream fix with their sledges and it's marvellous, the cold doesn't seem to bother them at all.’

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It's a Michigan thing: December a big month for ice cream

Spartan Stores is rolling out a new line of premium ice cream called Indulgent Creations. Winter might seem like an odd time to introduce a new line of ice cream but the holidays drive up sales of this chilly treat.

“Around the holidays, we see a seasonal hike as people entertain,” said Alan Hartline, executive vice president merchandising and marketing. Earlier this month Hudsonville Creamery & Ice Cream unveiled its new “Lake Affection” ice cream that sells for $4.99. The special edition ice cream – blue mint swirled vanilla – plays off the winter-weather phenomenon that keeps the company's Holland headquarters blanketed in snow for most of the winter.

Playing up to that holiday appetite, the Byron Township grocer debuted White Christmas -- a flavor with bits of peppermint sticks mixed with vanilla ice cream that will only be around until the end of December.

Indulgent Creations' four core year-round flavors include: Double Vanilla, Toasted Butter Pecan, Mint Chip, and Double Dark Chocolate. They'll be supplemented by seasonal flavors like Honey & Caramel, Apple Pie, Michigan Blueberry, Peaches & Cream, Brownies & Fudge and Café Mocha.

The first week they were introduced in early December, Indulgent Creations ice cream sold out, Hartline said.

This week, the ice cream that retails for $4.49 for a 1.5 quart is on sale for 3 for $10. The retailer has also been offering coupons.

Indulgent Creations is carried by Spartan's nearly 97 stores throughout Michigan including D&W Fresh Market, Family Fare, Felpausch, Glen's Market and VG's stores – available at some of the 350 independent grocery stores in Michigan,Ohio and Indiana that are Spartan's wholesale customers.

The premium ice cream line is the latest Michigan-made product Spartan Stores is highlighting on its shelves. The retailer has found sweet success with its Michigan's Best promotion for the past two summers.

The grocer isn't revealing the companies or farms that produce the ingredients or manufacture the ice cream, but says it's all produced in the Mitten State.

“Many of its finest flavorings and ingredients are sourced locally,” Hartline said.

“Supporting Michigan companies and farmers is extremely important to Spartan Stores and we’re very pleased that we have West Michigan connections for this premium line of ice cream.”

Hartline says the costlier ingredients and the “thick and rich” ice cream is comparable to Häagen-Dazs, a top-shelf ice cream sells for $4.49 for a 14-ounce container.

The launch of Indulgent Creations marks Spartan Stores' second effort with a high-end store brand, after introducing premium coffee beans in 2007.

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Mt. Hood Ice Cream Company offers ‘happiness on a spoon’

The clever logo represented the early 1900s company Mt. Hood Ice Cream Company, and the image was captured in an old photo on the wall at Stanford’s. The logo was on a sign at Davidson’s Drug Store, a turn of the century business on the corner of A Avenue and State Street in Lake Oswego. Mt. Hood Ice Cream served ice cream in the Northwest beginning in 1904. In 1921, the company was acquired by a distributor, which went out of business during the Great Depression.

Through the research, the Lubers have found other historical artifacts from the Mt. Hood Ice Cream Company, including a tray with the logo printed onto it and a number of other photos from events or businesses who served the ice cream. In 2008, the Lubers decided to relaunch the company and its logo. The state archives old business logos, which become public domain after a long period of time.

“Let’s have it become a household name again,” said Justin Luber. Justin Luber has a marketing and sales background, while his wife Tasha has an operations background. “We’ve always wanted to own a business together, but we weren’t sure what it would be,” said Tasha Luber. It seems as if that business has found the Lubers. “Using our business skills that we’ve been working in other applications and applying it to our own entity was pretty exciting,” said Tasha Luber.

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Carmela Ice Cream Opening Store, Launching Truck

There will soon be two new ways to get yourself a scoop or two of the delicious artisanal ice cream made by Carmela. The small local company is poised to open a storefront in Pasadena, and are launching a cool retro ice cream truck.

Setting up shop in northeastern Pasadena, the Carmela Ice Cream Artisanal Creamery will not only make and sell their ice cream on site, but also bring in other treats to eat and drink from other local small businesses, like Valerie Confections and Sugarbird Teas & Sweets. On the savory side, Carmela's co-found Jessica Mortarotti says they are talking to Heirloom LA to craft a lunch menu for the Creamery. But if you can't make it up to Pasadena, you might soon spot the newly-acquired vintage 1975 ice cream truck Carmela is taking to the streets, which will be showing up at different spots around town, including farmers' markets and other events.

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Red Velvet Cake Ice Cream, Baskin-Robbins Flavor of the Month

Just in time for the holidays, Baskin-Robbins, the world’s largest chain of ice cream specialty shops, is offering decadent and festive Red Velvet Cake ice cream as its December Flavor of the Month. Featuring a mild, chocolate cake flavor with a sumptuous ribbon of cream cheese frosting, Red Velvet Cake ice cream is an ideal treat during the winter season and the perfect complement to any holiday menu.

“Indulging in rich and comforting desserts is part of the fun of the holidays,” said Brian O’Mara, Baskin Robbins Vice President of Marketing. “Our Red Velvet Cake ice cream, with its delicious chocolate and cream cheese flavors and cheerful red and white coloring, adds a little holiday spirit to any celebration.

In Baskin-Robbins stores nationwide during the month of December, Red Velvet Cake ice cream is available by the scoop – in a cup or cone – or as a Baskin Robbins classic sundae. For at-home entertaining, events or as a host or hostess gift, Baskin-Robbins is also offering a Red Velvet Ice Cream Cake that features a frosted-whipped topping and red velvet cake crumbles. In addition, entertainers who want to create their own special holiday dessert with Red Velvet Cake ice cream can purchase the flavor in hand-packed pints, quarts and half-gallons.*

“Red velvet cake is an American classic that continues to grow in popularity among adults and children alike, especially during the holidays,” adds O’Mara. “The smooth flavor of our Red Velvet Cake ice cream will certainly delight dessert lovers as they celebrate the season with family and friends.”

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