Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams offers all kinds of fancy flavors—from sweet cream cookies and peach jam (which came in second in our Jeni’s flavor rankings) to burnt orange reverie and sparkling cherry pie, the company is known for pushing the boundaries of ice cream flavors. And all of those flavors exist because one day in the late ’90s, a college student in the Midwest decided to mix some cayenne pepper into chocolate ice cream.
In 1996, Jeni Britton studied art and history at Ohio State University. But her real interest was in scents and essential oils, and she spent all her free time experimenting with them. Britton added flavors like basil and rose to foods to test the connection between food and scent. But nothing could have prepared her for what would happen when she added a strange flavor, cayenne pepper, to chocolate ice cream. The shock of the combination inspired Britton, and from then on, her mission for ice cream was born.
In 2002, Britton officially opened Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams in Columbus, Ohio. For eight years, she stayed in production, selling her ice cream flavors from a small shop in Columbus’ North Market. Over the course of those years, Britton expanded her team and hired employees so she could move away from the sales counter and into management. In 2005, the company opened its first off-market store, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Read more: The 23 best ice cream brands in the ranking
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams today
In less than 20 years, Jeni’s Ice Creams has grown from just two stores to around 90, from Washington, D.C. to San Diego. From the beginning, Britton has operated under what she calls the “fellowship model.” The company emphasizes locally sourced ingredients and building relationships with the community, and has even earned certified B Corporation status (indicating a commitment to social and environmental goals). Jeni’s sources its main product, dairy, from Smith’s Dairy (which sources its products from local farmers). Other products, such as alcohol (for alcoholic flavors), peaches, other fruits, coffee, and goat cheese, come from companies in Ohio, Tennessee, and Illinois.
Today, Jeni’s offers over 50 flavors in addition to their classics like Salty Caramel, Brambleberry Crisp, and Wildberry Lavender. Some flavors are even collaborations with popular brands/intellectual properties, like Pop Tarts Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon or the limited-time Ted Lasso-themed Biscuits with the Boss. Business shows no signs of slowing down either, as they frequently release new flavors, like Bastani Sonnati. This Persian ice cream is flavored with saffron, rosewater, and pistachio and is a collaboration with Los Angeles-based clothing store The Hundreds. And if you’re not into fancy flavors, don’t worry—Jeni’s has deliciously simple flavors like chocolate and vanilla (the perfect ice cream for affogato). From a simple college student with an interest in fragrances to the founder of a national ice cream giant serving classic and groundbreaking flavors, Jeni Britton has established herself as an entrepreneur to be reckoned with.
Read the original article on Tasting Table.
