Harvest to Pour: Business of Beverages

Fanci Freez with Bill & Nick Hawes: Preserving legacy while innovating and expanding a historic brand.

Episode Summary

We sit down with the owners of Fanci Freez, a beloved ice cream shop in Boise, Idaho, and explore the challenges and opportunities of preserving the legacy of a historic brand while innovating and expanding the business. The discussion covers the shop's rich history, strategies for improving operational efficiency, the development of a successful consumer packaged goods product, and the entrepreneurs' vision for the future growth of the Fanci Freez brand. Through their insights, the interview provides valuable lessons for other small business owners seeking to balance tradition and progress in their own ventures.

Episode Notes

Key points of the interview:

History and evolution of Fanci Freez ice cream shop in Boise, Idaho, including origins in 1947 and current owners taking over in 2017
Challenges faced by the owners when they took over the business, such as dealing with seasonality and updating the outdated building
Owners' focus on improving the efficiency of the milkshake production process, including streamlining the workflow and adding new equipment
Decision to expand into consumer packaged goods (CPG) by developing a line of frozen milkshake products to sell in grocery stores
Process of transitioning the restaurant's milkshake recipe and branding into a shelf-stable CPG product, including overcoming challenges like keeping the milkshake fluid
Owners' vision for the future growth of the Fanci Freez brand, including the possibility of opening a third store location and continuing to explore new product lines and distribution channels

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