When it comes to craft ice cream what brands come to mind? Ben & Jerry’s? Häagen-Dazs? Most people imagine those names since they are the third and fourth best selling brands in the U.S. at $465.4 million and $418.8 million respectively. With sales of that magnitude and both brands being owned by multinational corporations…should we or can we consider them craft?
How exactly is craft ice cream defined? We did some online sleuthing in search of answers, but Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionaries, and Wikipedia all came up with nada. Not to fear, we found clarity from the craft beer industry. The Brewers Association defines craft beer by the following criteria (which we’ve adapted to craft ice cream):
· Made by small makers in small batches.
· Innovation is the hallmark.
· Generally made with traditional ingredients; interesting and sometimes non-traditional ingredients are often added for distinctiveness.
· Involved in communities through philanthropy, product donations, volunteerism and sponsorship of events.
· Distinctive, individualistic approaches to connecting with their customers.
· Maintains integrity in its products and a general independence, free from a substantial interest by a non-craft ice cream.
Based on the above criteria, Harmony Valley Creamery is definitely craft ice cream. And in fact, our fans would say Harmony Valley Creamery is the best craft ice cream! We’re proud to be among a new generation of ice cream makers on the rise who truly take craft to heart. Swing by our small town or follow our Scoop Truck to taste for yourself.
Sources:
Sales of the leading ice cream brands of the U.S. 2016
The World’s Top-Selling Ice Cream Brands
