Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Gerber.
Hi Eric, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
We began in Defiance as a small soft serve business in 1999. In 2003, we opened our second location in Defiance. 2008 we opened our Bryan location. In 2012 we began manufacturing our own ice cream. It’s done just 3 gallons at a time and we still inject everything by hand. 2013 saw our 3rd location in Defiance. 2015 we opened Bowling Green and finally Archbold in 2023.
In total, we have 6 operating locations (3 of them are in Defiance) and we have 2 new NW Ohio locations coming. Each location makes its own ice cream.
In 2022 we developed our own topping line that is exclusive to our stores. In 2024 we developed our own bottled soda line that is handcrafted and made with cane sugar.
We also have a mobile ice cream shop and 2 ice cream carts that are used for events and catering.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Opening new stores in new counties always creates some hurdles. Each has their own rules and their certain ways of doing business. You have to navigate each situation with the end goal in mind of opening your new business, so you’re always doing a few things differently on each new project.
When developing new ice cream flavors, some don’t always turn out the way you have it in your head the first couple of runs. It’s a small process you have to go through on each batch when you’re trying to create the perfect flavor, but once you have it, you just follow the recipe every time after that.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We began in 1999
We have 6 locations currently with more on the way.
We make our own handcrafted ice cream. It is a process to make your own ice cream and we manufacture it in all our locations, just 3 gallons at a time. We have over 150 flavors developed. Our stores showcase between 24 and 32 flavors at a time so there is obviously rotation of flavors. We also have many seasonal flavors especially at Christmas. Our ice cream is a high butterfat ice cream, so it’s very creamy and our flavors have a high inclusion rate.
We also have our own bottled soda line that is made with cane sugar. The flavors pair well with our ice cream for amazing floats.
All of our ice cream flavors can be made into handcrafted milkshakes for a one of a kind shake.
We also have developed our own topping line as we found the majority of toppings on the foodservice market no longer cut it. It’s expensive to use real ingredients, but it makes a massive difference in the way ice cream tastes and presents. It’s not about what the ingredients cost, rather what am I actually getting with this ingredient and is it the best in what I’m trying to accomplish. We go out of our way to source quality ingredients, which, real ingredients are more expensive than inferior ones.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Traveling each summer to the beach with my family. Always loved that trip and it’s why I have a love for the beach today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ericsicecream.com
- Facebook: @ericsicecreamfactory
