As I write this post, I’m scraping the bottom of a pint of ice cream with a metal spoon.
I’m reaching for any remaining drops that I can scoop together to give me even the smallest taste of the flavor I just devoured. I had inhaled a pint of Sea Salt Cream & Cookies ice cream from McConnell’s and yes, this was all in one sitting. If my desperation is any indicator, it is my absolute favorite ice cream flavor. I don’t remember when I first tried it, but I do know I want it every day. I think of the ice cream brand when I sit at work needing a delicious pick me up, when I walk out of the gym and want to reward myself with a beautiful contradiction, and when I sit in bed eager for something to sweetly send me off to sleep. It’s the kind of ice cream that I want all the time and everywhere I go. Thankfully, McConnell’s ice cream just happens to be in many of the places I frequent and it just happens to be that they’ll also be at The Taste
As a participant in The Taste by the Los Angeles Times, McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream will be one of the great brands feeding attendees on during the event. On Friday August 30, the 70-year old ice cream shop will hand out some of their best flavors for people to enjoy. Before I stand in line for scoops and then beg strangers to stand in line to get me more scoops, I interviewed the CEO of the brand, Michael Palmer to get to know what the company does in the community, which flavors people love most, and what they’ll do at the event.
The Interview
Follow My Gut (FMG): McConnell’s can be found in various cities throughout LA, but what kind of work do you do in the communities where you reside?
Michael Palmer (MP): We love to support the local community! We participate in Alex’s Lemonade and various No Kid Hungry Culinary Events each year.
FMG: What challenges have you encountered when growing McConnell’s here in Los Angeles and how did you overcome them?
MP: There’s probably no more competitive “door” in the grocery business than ice cream. It’s frozen and highly perishable with a high cost of goods and relatively low margins. And McConnell’s is the most challenging of all the brands, as we’ve never used any stabilizers – like other brands do – to prevent iciness and extend shelf life and such. And our costs are so much higher because of the quality of ingredients we use in our products. With that said, we’re working hard to distinguish ourselves in a highly competitive industry, without compromising who we are or what we make. That’s a challenge we’ll always face, but one we are all-in on.
FMG: What’s the top selling flavor in your shops and also in pints throughout Los Angeles?
MP: The top selling flavors include Eureka Lemon & Marionberries, Sea Salt Cream & Cookies, and Salted Caramel Chip. I’m pretty excited about our new fall flavors launching soon too – Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate, Cinnamon Oatmeal Raisin & Rockier Road.
FMG: What kind of growth are you looking forward to in the next five years?
MP: In Summer 2018, after 2+ years of development, we moved into our new home – The New Dairy, whereas The Old Dairy was a 1934 dairy in a somewhat isolated geography on the Central Coast. The New Dairy has given us the opportunity to grow our business – to greatly improve process and efficiency, and ultimately, to continue to make the special product we make – in a state-of-the-art facility, where we can also grow as a company.
FMG: What makes you most excited about participating in The Taste?
MP: To be in such great company in the LA culinary space and for everyone to try the Churro Ice Cream Sammie created by Jordan Loggins!
In learning more about an ice cream I truly love, I can honestly say I’ve become more excited about the made from scratch brand. It has such a deliciously rich, creamy, and smooth taste that it’s almost impossible to resist diving in spoon after spoon. While I can’t remember how I discovered McConnell’s, I can say that I no longer care. I simply thank whatever aligned in the universe to put me in the right place at the right time to have their flavor in my hand. For me, the Sea Salt Cream & Cookies flavor has graduated from comfort food to elated eats. That might have been corny, but that’s ok. As long as you know that the brand has created a flavor that fits perfectly into my day and gives me a smile with each bite, then that’s all that matters. And I hope you can get a pint in your hands so the same can happen for you.
To see the full lineup of participating restaurants and to get your tickets to The Taste, click here!
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