Ice Cream Shop Supplies

Frozen desserts like gelato, frozen yogurt, and ice cream are a growing segment of the food service industry. Many restaurant professionals create gourmet frozen desserts and specialty drinks to compliment their food menus, especially during the summer months. Whether you’re building a brick-and-mortar frozen yogurt shop, launching a dessert truck, or want to add ice cream treats to your menu, Chefs' Toys is your one-stop ice cream equipment supplier. 

Chefs' Toys has provided gelato equipment and ice cream truck supplies since 1988. We stock the perfect professional equipment for ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt, slushy drinks, or soft serve.

Ice cream shop equipment includes specialized appliances not often found in restaurants or food trucks. The following equipment is required for most ice cream-based businesses:

In addition, you’ll need a range of restaurant disposables, including bowls, utensils, ramekins, and tasting cups. If you plan to serve beverages too, you’ll need drinkware, beverage dispensers, milkshake machines, and coffee machines.

Starting a small ice cream shop is similar to starting any other food service business. You need a comprehensive business plan that includes a company description and concept, your menu, ownership structure, market analysis, equipment costs, financial projections, and employee needs. You’ll need to consider whether you want a permanent location for the business or a mobile alternative, such as a food truck or pop-up location. You should also account for the seasonal nature of the ice cream business and whether you want to open just during the summer or year-round.

The average ice cream or gelato shop has a 25% profit margin.

The popularity of ice cream does not automatically translate into business success. You have to compete with other stores and ice cream trucks, all equally determined to dominate the market. You’ll need some way to make your business stand out. Ways to make your store the best in town include: 

• Focusing on soft serve. Most ice cream businesses sell hard ice cream. Adding soft-serve machines to your ice cream shop equipment sets you apart. 
• Selling more than just ice cream. Add waffles, coffee, sandwiches, or hot chocolate to your menu to attract more customers. 
• Offering dairy-free desserts such as sherbert.
• Making artisanal ice cream from local and seasonal ingredients.
• Building your social media presence. Make presentations as important as taste to encourage customers to Instagram their frozen treats.

Few food service businesses survive by simply opening their doors. No matter how excellent your food is, you must promote your business to attract customers. Here are some suggestions for generating buzz about your new ice cream store:

• Build a social media presence with contests and freebies. 
• Make the decor and exterior of your store stand out with well-illuminated display freezers.
• Develop promotional items, such as t-shirts or tote bags emblazoned with your logo. 
• Offer a unique flavor of the week.
• Attend local community events with a pop-up tasting bar.

Chefs' Toys is an ice cream equipment supplier with decades of experience. We have the appliances and equipment you need, whether they are ice cream truck supplies or high-end gelato equipment. 

Browse our selection of ice cream shop supplies, or contact our professional kitchen designers for assistance planning the interior and commercial kitchen designs for your new frozen treat business.