Kwik Trip continues to push the boundaries of creativity and taste in their ice cream offerings, delighting customers with unique and flavorful experiences. The journey from concept to shelf is an extensive process driven by market trends, customer feedback, and the desire to deliver high-quality products.
Innovative Flavors and Market Trends
“We put a lot of research into developing new flavors,” says Katarina Nemitz, Kwik Trip food scientist in the R&D department. “We analyze market trends data, gather customer feedback, and draw inspiration from fun and unique products we come across. Sometimes, a cool inclusion sparks an entire flavor concept.”
A Rigorous Development Process
Creating a new ice cream flavor is a meticulous endeavor that can take up to two years. “From inception, it can be a year to two years before a flavor hits our shelves,” Nemitz adds. “We procure all ingredients, perfect the formula, conduct taste tests, and ensure the quality holds up throughout its shelf life.”
Unique Tasting Experiences
Kwik Trip’s commitment to innovation extends to exploring unusual flavors. “One of the most unique flavors I’ve ever tried was sweet corn ice cream at a trade show in Vegas. It tasted exactly like eating corn on the cob!” she shared.
Customer Favorites
Among the customer favorites is the Brookie Dough ice cream. Andrew Riley, Kwik Trip Dairy Production Manager says, “We receive a lot of positive feedback on our Brookie Dough flavor. It’s half vanilla, half chocolate ice cream with a fudge ribbon, cookie dough, and brownie pieces. Customers love it and often request it in different container types.”
High Standards and Local Sourcing
Kwik Trip ensures that their ice cream maintains the highest standards. “We have a strong relationship with our vendors to ensure we receive high-quality ingredients,” Riley adds. “We use local milk sourced within 150 miles of our dairy, bringing in around 13 to 17 truckloads a week.”
Extensive Testing and Quality Assurance
Quality assurance is a critical part of the process. “We conduct extensive shelf-life testing, checking the product every week for a year, and even beyond our standard shelf life to ensure quality,” says Nemitz.
Exciting New Flavors
Kwik Trip regularly introduces new flavors to keep the selection fresh and exciting. “We have a caramel apple ice cream coming out next month, and earlier this year, we released a popular waffle cone ice cream,” reveals Riley. “We rotate our pint flavors about every six months, always looking to innovate and delight our customers.”