Brian Smith and Jackie Cuscuna of Ample Hills

#92.
In this episode, the founders of Ample Hills share their journey of turning a passion for ice cream into a beloved brand. They discuss their backgrounds, the creative process behind crafting unique flavors, and the challenges of running and scaling an ice cream business. Along the way, they reflect on the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, from expansion struggles to the realities of bankruptcy. The episode also explores the importance of quality control, strategic partnerships, and storytelling in branding. They also offer insights into developing new food concepts and their unexpected pivot from ice cream to chicken wings.


Links and Resources:

Visit meez: https://www.getmeez.com

Follow meez on Instagram:   / getmeez  

Follow Brian and Jackie:   / astheicecreamchurns  

Chapters:

00:00 The Origins of Ample Hills Ice Cream
02:52 Crafting Unique Flavors and Techniques
05:57 The Business of Ice Cream: Operations and Growth
09:13 Quality Control and Consistency in Production
12:00 Scaling the Dream: From Neighborhood Shop to Brand
15:06 Lessons Learned and Future Aspirations
23:37 Scaling the Dream: From One Shop to Many
26:18 A Game-Changing Email: Disney's Bob Iger
31:29 The Highs and Lows of Rapid Growth
35:56 The Unexpected Downfall: Bankruptcy and Lessons Learned
40:13 Reinventing the Brand: From Ice Cream to Chicken
46:24 The Creative Process: Ideation and Storytelling