Today we’d like to introduce you to Alec Jaffe.
Hi Alec, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always loved ice cream — very much so that I taught myself how to make ice cream for a project in elementary school and brought it in to share with the class. I also grew up around family members who had significant involvement in the agroecology and sustainable agriculture movement. Both of these personal and family interests came to be life-defining and as I grew up, I realized there wasn’t an ice cream on the market that tasted good, was good or you, and was good for the environment, so in 2020, I launched Alec’s Ice Cream to combine my life-long sweet tooth and passion for sustainability.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like any startup we have faced our challenges, especially launching our product during the height of the pandemic in 2020. In order to fulfill our mission and create our ice cream in the way we believed it should be made, we felt we needed to manufacture it ourselves. This meant investing in a manufacturing facility which brings its own unique set of challenges that many new brands don’t have to face. Along with all the challenges of learning how to manufacture and getting a facility up and running, it also limits our resources to spend on marketing and other more “fun” things that other brands can do. But, these challenges are a result of us trying to do things the right way, sourcing the best ingredients to make the best quality product, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Alec’s Ice Cream?
Alec’s Ice Cream is the first and only premium, regenerative-verified & USDA organic certified ice cream utilizing 100% A2 dairy — the original milk protein that has been known to lead to easier digestion, unlike A1 dairy, which accounts for the majority of dairy on the market — and carbon-neutral, regenerative organic certified cane sugar. Alec’s Ice Cream not only tastes better and is better for you, it’s also better for the environment by virtue of our partnership with a single-source, family-owned and operated A2 dairy farm in Northern California that specializes in regenerative farming practices. Our best-in-class ingredients come together to create an ideal texture, creaminess, and flavor for the ultimate indulgent experience. We currently offer six flavors rooted in nostalgia – Tahitian Vanilla Bean, Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Salted Caramel Latte, Honey Blueberry Lavender, Mint Chocolate Chip, and Matcha Chocolate Chip – and emphasize quality ice cream that your body and the environment will thank you for.
I’m most proud of our brand’s small part in the big work of addressing the climate crisis our planet is facing. As the first certified regenerative organic ice cream, we are sourcing ingredients that help reverse climate change – both our dairy and cane sugar are certified regenerative which means 98% of our ice cream base ingredients are regeneratively farmed. We are the only brand offering an ultra-creamy and delicious ice cream experience that is better for you and better for the environment. We craft our ice cream with 100% A2 dairy which is gut-friendly and helps with digestion, so you don’t have that icky feeling most dairy products on the market give you.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Luck has played a huge role in getting to where I am now. We were lucky to find a shut-down ice cream plant that was relatively affordable and perfectly sized for a startup to launch a business and continue to grow it to a national scale. We were lucky to have the first certified regenerative organic dairy farm in the country located locally to the plant that we could easily source regeneratively farmed dairy. We have been lucky to raise money from great investors that allow us to pursue this dream and build a company. And I’m lucky to be surrounded by an incredible team to help turn the vision of Alec’s Ice Cream into reality.
Pricing:
- Our suggested retail price is $8.99.
- We also offer nationwide shipping on our website for $11.99 per pint.
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@alecsicecream.com
- Website: https://www.alecsicecream.com/
- Instagram: @alecsicecream
- TikTok: @alecsicecream
Image Credits
Alec’s Ice Cream (Headshot)
RC Rivera (Product imagery)
