True Scoops

True Scoops is a food-product company specializing in shelf-stable, do-it-yourself (DIY) premium ice cream and topping mixes. The company's products, which are gluten-free certified, kosher, and made in a peanut-free facility, are designed for consumers to make ice cream at home without an ice cream maker, requiring only an electric mixer and half-and-half. The product line includes classic ice cream flavors like vanilla bean, chocolate, and strawberry, alongside sauce mixes such as hot fudge and salted butterscotch.

The company was founded by Kelly Williamson and Shelly Marshall, who met in 2015 at Penn State's Ice Cream Short Course. Both founders have prior experience in the ice cream industry; Marshall operates Island Pops, a Caribbean-style ice cream shop in Brooklyn, NY, and Williamson previously ran The Galley in Cambridge, MA. The idea for True Scoops emerged during the 2020 pandemic when Marshall noticed a gap in the market for simple, at-home ice cream making compared to the popularity of baking. Seeing an opportunity to create a convenient, high-quality mix, she approached Williamson, and they launched the company in July 2021.

True Scoops operates on a direct-to-consumer model through its website and Amazon, and its products are also available in some retail stores. The business was initially bootstrapped, with the founders using personal savings to fund the launch. They have since participated in accelerator programs and used a Kickstarter campaign, which raised over $21,000, to fund the launch of a new pint-sized product line and expand marketing efforts. The company's marketing strategy focuses on educating consumers about its new food product category and aims to secure placement in the 'maker's aisle' of grocery stores. True Scoops has been featured in publications like Real Simple and the Boston Globe and has formed partnerships with other brands, such as a DIY ice cream sandwich kit with Yum Crumbs.

Keywords: DIY ice cream, shelf-stable dessert, powdered ice cream mix, at-home food kits, gluten-free desserts, kosher food products, women-owned business, direct-to-consumer food, food CPG, dessert mixes, Island Pops, Kelly Williamson, Shelly Marshall, Shark Tank, Kickstarter food project, make at home ice cream, premium food products, online food sales, specialty food items, food innovation.