How to Start Ice Cream Making Manufacturing Business

Do you want to start an Ice Cream manufacturing business? Find here a detailed business plan guide on starting an Ice cream manufacturing factory.

The ice cream manufacturing business can be initiated on a small-scale basis with moderate capital investment. It is defined as a frozen dairy product made by suitable blending and processing of cream and other milk products together with sugar, flavor, stabilizer, and incorporation of air by agitating during the freezing process. Ice cream is consumed by all sections of society, particularly children.

Is Ice cream Making Business Profitable?

According to IDFA’s Dairy Deliver, in the United States alone, Ice cream is an $11 billion industry that supports 26,000 direct jobs and generates $1.6 billion in direct wages.

Today ice cream may be considered a luxury food item although its popularity is increasing rapidly. Ice cream is consumed more in cities, However occasionally, particularly in meetings and social gatherings, it is being used even in villages and towns. The consumption of ice cream is likely to increase in the future.

Ice Cream Manufacturing Business Plan Guide for Beginners

Here are the 8 steps to follow to start a profitable ice cream manufacturing business:

1. Create a Business Plan

Starting an ice cream manufacturing business can be extremely lucrative, as long as you have researched other ice cream businesses in your area and developed a detailed business plan. Take some time and write down the different aspects of your  Ice cream manufacturing business plan.

2. Choose a Location for an Ice cream Manufacturing Factory

Selecting s location for the factory is a critical aspect of this business. The location must be close to the market where you are expected to sell your products. The reason primarily is to reduce the distribution cost, which plays a big role in making the business profitable.

3. Name your Ice Cream Manufacturing Business

Select a name for your business that is catchy and easy to remember people. In addition to this, check whether a relevant domain name is available or not if you intend to make a website.

4. Make the Business Legally Compliant

Check with local authorities and understand the permits and licenses required to operate an ice cream manufacturing company. These operating terms differ from state to state and country.

Furthermore, choose a proper business structure under which you are going to run an ice cream manufacturing business.

For example, if you are from the United States, forming an LLC will provide you with some extra benefits at an extra cost.

5. Machine & Equipment for Ice Cream Production

The type of machinery will largely depend on the production output you are looking for. For a small-scale manufacturing unit, some of the basic machinery that will be needed are as follows:

• Refrigeration compressor
• M.S. Brink Tank
• Cooling Condenser with assembly line
• Agitator fan assembly
• Liquid receiver
• Thermocole
• Cart trolleys
• Ice-cream freezer
• Dehydrator

6. Cost of Starting Ice Cream Manufacturing Unit

The cost will obviously depend on the size and the production capacity of the unit. One can start a small-scale ice cream-making unit with as low as $7000 to 15,000.

7. Ice Cream Manufacturing Process

You need to understand the manufacturing process involved in making ice creams. Find below a basic guide on how ice cream is manufactured:

There are 3 stages in an ice cream manufacturing process. Firstly, the raw ingredients mainly milk, added milk powder, sugars, and fats such as cream, butter, or vegetable fats, must all be heat treated (cooked) and blended through heating to emulsify the fat in the mix. The mix is heated to a temperature of 65-85°C for a specific time to be achieved.

Step 1 of Making Ice Cream

Firstly, the raw ingredients mainly milk, added milk powder, sugars, and fats such as cream, butter, or vegetable fats, must all be heat treated (cooked) and blended through heating to emulsify the fat in the mix.

The mix is heated to a temperature of 65-85°C for a specific time to achieve pasteurization which then kills harmful bacteria present in the pre-heated ingredients. The heat treatment is usually defined in the Food Regulations that apply in the country of production.

Step 2 of Making Ice Cream

Secondly, the heated mix must be cooled rapidly, regulations normally specify this must be done within 1.5 hours, to the required temperature, usually, 7°C or lower, and most equipment will usually continue this cooling down to 4°C. Once cooled the mix is allowed to age before flavors such as strawberry, mint, vanilla, and other fruit pastes are added.

Step 3 of Making Ice Cream

Finally, the chilled mix is frozen to -6°C to -9°C, very quickly within 5-10 minutes in either a continuous or batch freezer by way of a churning/whipping process. During this freezing cycle, the complete mixture is poured or pumped into the freezing chamber of the freezer to be frozen. Inside this chamber the mix, now containing sugars, water, fats, and proteins is partially frozen incorporating air bubbles, resulting in a finished ice cream similar in consistency to soft-serve ice cream.

8. Promote your Products

Finally, marketing your ice cream products plays a key role in establishing your ice cream manufacturing brand. Other than creating fliers, and brochures to promote locally, creating a website goes a long way in developing confidence among customers.