I’m happy to address your question. I have been in this industry for 37 years. I have been around many soft serve mix products. Let’s say I have seen some exceptional products and some products that are manufactured as inexpensively as possible for maximum profitability. I recently tasted a major brand in a salad bar chain, too. I did a blind taste test and could not tell the difference between the vanilla and chocolate.
It sounds to me that what you could have experienced was a soft serve mix product that had a minimum amount of artificial flavor and color (which is used to make the product look rich) and a minimum amount of creamer (to give the product some texture and mouthfeel). It is my opinion that major foodservice companies (and you can see these brands pop up on the web — just search soft serve mix) use the minimum amount of ingredients to function as soft serve with intent for maximum profitability. Many major foodservice companies have significant expenses to get their product to market. These companies work through brokers and usually have to pay a 5% commission for their service. Also, major foodservice distributors request money for “marketing programs” and companies can be paying the local distributor 2-5% income of the cost of the product, the distributor’s corporate office can be paid an additional fee 2-5%. These are estimates and could be lower or higher but, in my experience, these are typical. The chain account business is extremely competitive so a manufacturer sells at a significant discount off list price. So the net effect is a major brand can have up to 15% or greater margin right off their list price before they negotiate a price for the chain account.
With that said, DCFI manufactures powder add water mixes with natural flavor, no artificial color and exceptional creamers — for excellent mouthfeel and a pleasant soft serve experience. FreezePoint® Gourmet soft serve mix recently won an award for the quality of our soft serve mix product. Great flavor, exceptional texture and mouthfeel means you will know what flavor you are eating.
Our tag line is Taste the Flavor™. Desert “Cool” Foods, Inc. was started 20 years ago with the goal of providing exceptional soft serve mix products to our customers so they can build their business with repeat customers. I grew up eating soft serve mix as a kid in NYC and NJ. Every cone was a pure joy! We manufacture our soft serve mix so kids and adults can have the same experience.
We encourage you to ask your favorite shop to stock FreezePoint® Gourmet for soft serve mix, shakes or smoothies.
Soft serve should be fun and flavorful — not a cheap imitation with maximum profitability as the main goal and paying significant dollars to distributors to get your product to market.
Desert “Cool” Foods, Inc. will sell direct to shop owners in the United States who can meet minimum requirements. That means for a store owner who works long hours, there will be more profitability for their business — and customers who will come back again and again!
Taste The Flavor!™
Soft Serve Mix At It’s Best™
FreezePoint® Gourmet Soft Serve Mix!!!