Resources for Emerging Ice Cream Manufacturers & Brands
Part of what makes Moose Tracks so fun is that we’re able to work with so many unique dairy processers and brands across the United States and Canada. Some of our relationships date back to 1988, with dairy companies that have been making amazing ice cream for over 100 years. And some of our brand partners are new in their space and looking to expand their footprint as they navigate the new world of brand management and manufacturing.
The ice cream industry is an incredible group of people in that we all want each other to succeed. It is not lost on us that attending industry events is essentially being put in a room with your “competition”, yet it is never viewed this way. It’s almost like a family reunion! With this, we have some great trade associations who have worked hard to create resources that have been vetted by our veteran partners as a great road map for success.
The first resource we recommend is safeicecream.org. It provides a ton of great food safety and manufacturing materials and even breaks it down by state! Several ice cream trade associations collaborated on this website, and it is updated regularly.
Secondly, we’d suggest the Ice Cream Technology Conference as an annual event to get to know other businesses in your industry and learn about the latest advancements in ice cream. It’s usually held in April, and attendees range from large manufacturers, suppliers, to emerging brands. A variety of R&D, regulatory, and executive team members attend. It’s also usually in a beautiful and warm location, so that doesn’t hurt!
Lastly, the Penn State Ice Cream Short Course covers virtually every topic when it comes to safe, quality ice cream processing. It’s also a great opportunity to meet peers in the ice cream space. It’s a weeklong commitment, and you’ll come away with a ton of valuable information that you’ll use for years to come. Many of our colleagues in our industry have attended, whether early in their careers, or as a way to reinforce the knowledge they’ve gained throughout the years. Kenny on the DB team is an ’94 Penn State Short Course grad, Caroline is ’19 grad, and Cam a ’21 grad!
We’d love to hear from you! Do you have any recommendations for resources to add to this? Do you have any questions for us? Please reach out!