What do macaroni and cheese, ranch dressing, and pizza all have in common? They’re all ice cream flavors made by Brooklyn-based Van Leeuwen Ice Cream.

The ice cream shop was founded in 2008 by Ben Van Leeuwen, Pete Van Leeuwen, and Laura O’Neill. What started as selling ice cream out of a renovated post office truck, turned into brick-and-mortar shops across the United States with over 24 flavors.

In 2023, the ice cream company reports selling over 9 million pints wholesale across stores such as Walmart and Whole Foods. At their shops, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream serves up to 40,000 guests daily. Today, with over 50 shops nationwide and plans for international expansion, Van Leeuwen continues to bring joy to customers with their artisanal ice cream.

We followed Ben for a day as he was opening a brand new store in Midtown East back in 2023 to see exactly what he does for the company. We also learn about his daily routine, which includes biking to work and watching shows such as "The Bear" to unwind after a long day serving ice cream.

00:00 - Intro
00:24 - Meet Ben Van Leeuwen
00:37 - What Is Van Leeuwen Ice Cream?
01:15 - Ben's Morning Routine
02:10 - A Sweet Start
03:05 - Ben's Mister Softee Truck
03:50 - Van Leeuwen's Beginning
05:23 - Ben's Work Day
06:15 - Before The Store Opening
06:36 - The Trio's Early Challenge
07:53 - Van Leeuwen's First Storefront
09:15 - Balancing Business And Vision
10:33 - Keeping Ownership
10:59 - Van Leeuwen's Grand Opening
11:11 - Hospitality And High Quality Ingredients
12:09 - Ben's Evening Routine
13:28 - Van Leeuwen's Future Ahead
14:03 - Outro

“Correction:” 00:43 - up to $12

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