CT-Based Ice Cream Chain Expands To NY With New Creamery

STAMFORD, CT — Gofer Ice Cream, which opened its first shop in Greenwich over 20 years ago and is now headquartered in Stamford, announced last week the formation of Gold Coast Creamery. The new company based in Westchester County, NY, will manufacture, market and distribute premium small-batch ice cream and other frozen treats.

The company said the new factory at 151 Wilkins Ave. in Port Chester, NY, is currently producing ice cream for all seven Gofer Ice Cream locations, including company-owned and franchised outlets.

This year, the company plans to begin marketing efforts to wholesale its products to other businesses in the area.

"We have been busy the past few years developing new flavors and putting into place the appropriate staff, equipment and systems to be able to grow our business by ten times," said Jay Ragusa, founder of Gofer Ice Cream and chief executive officer of Gold Coast Creamery, in a news release.

"The set up we have now can serve not only our own shops but can sell more to others through our Gofer Brand, the new Gold Coast Creamery Brand, or private label. We can produce tubs in any size and flavor profile a customer would like. We look forward to continuing the enterprise development and expanding into the New York area through many more points of sale."

Gofer Ice Cream has served the Fairfield County community for more than 23 seasons and has traditionally expanded through company-owned and franchised locations. The company said the new factory will allow it to grow beyond Gofer-branded scoop shops and supply ice cream to restaurants, clubs, stores and other nontraditional outlets.

Gofer Ice Cream operates seven retail locations in southern Fairfield County, offering hand-dipped and soft-serve ice cream, plant-based ice cream, fat-free options, Italian ice, smoothies and Razzles.

The company opened its first store in Greenwich in 2003 and later expanded to Cos Cob, Stamford, Wilton, New Canaan and Darien.