Young Moncton Area Entrepreneur Launches Personalized Ice Cream Business
RIVERVIEW – Looking for the perfect “buy local” gift for your favourite sweet tooth?
A metro-Moncton teen recently launched TreatLab, the region’s first brand of artisan ice cream. 15-year-old Xavier Bulman launched his dream business just a week ago.
“The overall support off and online has been tremendous and we’ve already started to work out orders with customers. It’s just starting out but it’s going really well,” he said.
The company currently offers 18 base ice cream flavours and over 30 mix-ins so customers can create their own unique blend.
They also offer customized labeling for the tubs, making the product that much more personal.
“We have an order sheet and in that are templates and a Dropbox so customers can upload their own design. Send those in and we’ll work out how to put them on the pint,” said Bulman.
The Riverview High School student started working on TreatLab about a year ago through Junior Achievement, where he learned a variety of entrepreneurial skills such as product development, marketing, sales, networking and finance.
During his two-year stint with Junior Achievement, he began researching ice cream brands on the market and was concerned about the laundry list of chemicals and additives in most of them. He also knew today’s consumers are looking for fresher, more natural products and that he could offer a product like this.
Last year, Bulman bought an ice cream maker and began making handmade ice cream using fresh, natural ingredients and locally produced ones when in season.
In the past year or so, he worked on various ice cream recipes, conducted an online consumer survey and other business planning activities. He even mowed lawns last summer to help raise funds to get his business off the ground.
Christina Mulherin is a reporter with 91.9 The Bend, a Huddle content partner.