Schoep's Ice Cream

Schoep's Ice Cream
Company typePrivate
Founded1928; 96 years ago (1928)
Headquarters2070 Helena Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53704
ProductsIce Cream
Revenue$60 Million (as of 2016)
Number of employees
150
Websiteschoepsicecream.com

Schoep's Ice Cream is an ice cream manufacturing company based in Madison, Wisconsin.[1] It is the largest independent ice cream manufacturer in Wisconsin.[1]

History

The factory located on Division Street in Madison, Wisconsin

Schoep's Ice Cream was founded by E.J. Schoephoester in 1928. Schoephoester made and sold the ice cream in his grocery store. By 1937 Schoep's Ice Cream had grown in local popularity, and E.B. Schoephoester sold his company in 1940 to Peter B. Thomsen, a butter maker.[2][3] The company has been kept in the Thomsen family, and as of 2008, it was owned in part by nineteen members of the Thomsen family. As of 2018, four third-generation Thomsens work at the Madison headquarters.[2] Third-generation management includes Alan Thomsen, CEO; Eric Thomsen, VP of innovation and technology; Richard Thomsen, operations manager; and John Thomsen, food service sales and special events.[4]

Receivership

On October 14, 2019 Schoep's Ice Cream announced that the company had filed for receivership.[5][6][7] Schoep's was sold to California-based company Brothers International Desserts on February 27, 2020. [8]

Operation

All of Schoep's Ice Cream is currently produced from a single factory located on Division Street in Madison, Wisconsin. By 2008, Schoeps was producing 6,000 gallons of ice cream an hour and 2.5 million gallons a year. With this high production rate, Schoeps has been recognized as the top producer of ice cream in the state of Wisconsin. Due to its growth, in 2005 Schoep's opened a $7 million, 46,000-square-foot (4,300 m2) distribution center on Manufacturers Drive, near the Dane County Regional Airport. This new facility featured space for 3,600 pallets and 14 loading-dock doors. Before this facility was built, Schoeps had shipped all of their ice cream from two loading docks at their factory.[9][10]

In 2016, Schoep's produced 10 million gallons of ice cream, and topped $60 million in sales, shipping its product to all 50 states and Puerto Rico.[4] In 2017, Schoep's made more than 12 million gallons of ice cream.[2][11] Schoep's also makes frozen yogurt, frozen custard, lite ice cream, sherbert, and ice cream novelties.[1][12]

Contracts

Walgreens

Schoep's Ice Cream under the Schoep's brand is not generally distributed outside of the Midwest United States, but instead as Walgreens brand Ice Cream and other private pack names. Since 1993, Schoep's has been the sole producer of ice cream sold under the Walgreens label. This contract accounts for more than 25 percent of Schoep's business.[13]

Other

Schoep's is a licensed manufacturer and distributor of ice cream novelties such as Eskimo Pie, Popsicle, Heath and Nestlé Crunch Ice Cream Bars.[3] Currently, the supermarket version of Gilles Frozen Custard is manufactured and distributed by Schoep's.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c About Us Archived 2018-01-28 at the Wayback Machine. Schoep's Ice Cream. "Schoep's Ice Cream, 2070 Helena Street, PO Box 3249, Madison, WI 53704." Retrieved Jan 27, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Welcome to Schoep's Ice Cream. Schoep's Ice Cream. Retrieved Jan 27, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Engel, Larry (1982-08-27). "Schoep's ice cream sales lift company to top spot in state". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  4. ^ a b Leah Call (February 2, 2017). "Clear succession plan helps Schoep's owner family stick to business". Milwaukee Business News. Retrieved Jan 27, 2018.
  5. ^ Hamer, Emily (14 October 2019). "Madison-based Schoep's Ice Cream files for receivership, an alternative to bankruptcy". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  6. ^ Rickert, Chris (19 December 2019). "Schoep's continues search for buyer, hopes business will endure SHARE THIS Facebook Twitter Email Print Save Schoep's continues search for buyer, hopes business will endure". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Schoep's avoiding bankruptcy but will be sold". WKOW News. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  8. ^ Nichols, Jeremy (27 February 2020). "Schoep's Ice Cream acquired by California-based company". WMTV News. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  9. ^ Dudlicek, James (2008-02-01). "A Banner Year for Schoep's". Dairyfoods Report. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  10. ^ Stein, Jason (2005-03-24). "I Scream, You Scream ... Ice Cream Maker Hopes Everyone Will Scream For Schoep's, The Local Brand". Wisconsin State Journal. Host.madison.com. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  11. ^ Sepeda, Kassandra (15 July 2019). "Celebrating National Ice Cream Month". WSAW News. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  12. ^ Schoep's Products. Schoep's Ice Cream. Retrieved Jan 27, 2018.
  13. ^ Adams, Barry (2008-08-31). "Cream of the crop while fortunes melt for other state ice cream manufacturers, Schoep's is 80 and going strong". Madison.com. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  14. ^ McCann, K.; Tanzilo, R. (2016). Milwaukee Frozen Custard. American Palate. Arcadia Publishing Incorporated. p. pt43-45. ISBN 978-1-62585-717-0. Retrieved Nov 14, 2017.