PNC Brands Group Acquires Majority Stake in Ice Cream Factory

PNC Brands Group has acquired a majority interest in Lebanon, Mo.-based Ice Cream Factory, a producer of handcrafted ice cream distributed in thousands of retail outlets nationwide and a co-manufacturer for regional and emerging brands. PNC Brands is the parent company of Pivot North Consulting Group and PNC Specialty Foods.

Ice Cream Factory operates out of a restored, 90,000-sq.-ft. dairy plant in Lebanon that was built in the 1940s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, according to the release announcing the transaction. Ice Cream Factory will maintain the Lebanon facility as its brand headquarters and manufacturing hub following the acquisition. Founder Shannon Imler will become chief growth officer, while Gail Kurpgeweit, CEO of PNC Brands Group, will add CEO of Ice Cream Factory to her role.

Ice Cream Factory is expected to update its processing lines, expand its frozen storage and add a savory production line to broaden its co-man capabilities, and increase efficiency and capacity. All current employees will be retained, and the company even expects to add 12-15 jobs in production, R&D and client support, the release noted. It also should benefit from PNC’s broader infrastructure, R&D expertise, brand development, and brokerage and distribution channels.

PNC’s current clients should benefit from a newly vertically integrated platform with the addition of Ice Cream Factory, giving them end-to-end commercialization opportunities. It will shorten lead times, improve quality control and reduce costs for restaurant and emerging brands that use PNC’s “Menu to Market” system.