Investors must have a hankering for coastal elitism blended with farm-to-table fudge and a crunchy nut garnish, because Brooklyn-based ice creamery Van Leeuwen announced a new funding round yesterday.
Nutritional facts: Van Leeuwen raised $18.7 million in a round led by private equity firm NextWorld Evergreen. Currently, it sells ice cream to NYC and LA folks who are too fancy for Breyers.
- Van Leeuwen specializes in vegan, limited-time-only flavors like marionberry cheesecake and ginger lemon poppy seed crumble.
- It hasn’t tested private equity toppings since 2018, when it raised an undisclosed amount to explore wholesale distribution.
Pairs best with...expanding in every segment. Van Leeuwen will spend on new ice cream parlors (including one at the American Dream mall in New Jersey), nationwide wholesale partnerships, and flavor development. The brand’s also hiring at its Greenpoint HQ to double its manufacturing capacity.
Why it’s filling: Van Leeuwen has jumped on niche food trends to satisfy millennial fans. In December, it debuted a line of oat milk ice cream that hit wholesale accounts in January. It doesn’t hurt that its stores and packaging are Instagram magnets.
Retail news that keeps industry pros in the know
Retail Brew delivers the latest retail industry news and insights surrounding marketing, DTC, and e-commerce to keep leaders and decision-makers up to date.