Whether it’s the heat of Summer, or the desirable thought of a sweet treat year round, ice cream has long held its place as a crowd favorite. While hard scoop, batch ice cream has been a popular choice among establishments for many years, soft serve ice cream has begun to infiltrate high-end and family owned restaurants alike.
Why the change? Soft serve not only offers a near unlimited variety of flavor capabilities, but also offers consistent product, time-effective service, and budget friendly dessert options that can be sold at a premium price. For a long time, soft serve has had the stigma of being a fast food product, and while it is an effective option for these companies, the idea of uniquely crafted soft serve has been growing in popularity with restaurants and consumer minds alike.
Soft Serve: Low Cost, High Return
Soft Serve contains roughly 3-6% butter fat, a substantially lower amount than hard scoop ice cream which contains about 10%. Due to this difference alone, businesses can expect lower manufacturing costs. Along with this, soft serve, as a product, contains roughly 30-60% air. This high overrun is what gives soft serve its desirable light and airy texture. Due to its airy consistency, owner operators will be maximizing their product by expanding the number of servings they can produce per batch.
When it comes to high return margins, soft serve is one of a kind. With a base product cost of roughly 35 cents per serving and an estimated selling price of $1.75, soft serve, at its simplest form, offers a whopping 400% return per serving. However, the fun doesn’t have to stop there. Many restaurants have expanded their soft serve offerings by adding fun toppings, various flavors, and creating a one of a kind product at prices that are hard to say no to.
Make it Uniquely Yours: Endless Options for Customization
According to Berj Ghazarian, the President of Itaberco, in an interview with The Fork CPAs, Raffi Yousefian, elevated soft serve creations can be charged at $12-$15, while quick and casual dining can reach up to $6 with $1–3 for toppings and add-ons. Some restaurants have taken this one step further, using the vast capabilities that a soft serve machine offers. In an article written by Town and Country, we see the insights and ideas of chef Christina Tosi and her quickly expanding Milk Bar Restaurant based in New York City. Tosi saw the opportunity for elevated soft serve in the big city which led her to create her much sought after cereal milk soft serve.
“I never understood why soft serve wasn’t a thing in the big city,” she says now. Like most of us, she associated soft serve ice cream with roadside custard stands, carnivals, fairs, fast-food chains, or the Mister Softee truck we ran down the street after; she never thought of it as upscale. But why shouldn’t it be a little fancy? “It’s operationally a light lift,” Tosi adds. “Emotionally and creatively a nostalgic delight with infinite flavor possibility.”
Because soft serve machines operate on a base flavor, your business has the ability to create something no one has ever had! Whether it’s something like Tosi’s cereal milk ice cream or Supermoon Bakehouse’s Croissant Butter Soft Serve, there is a unique market for every soft serve creation.
Efficient, Effective, and Consistent
More than savings and the freedom of creativity, soft serve offers an efficient, effective, and consistent product with every serving. Common issues like lack of space to store batch ice cream and inconsistent temperatures of freezers often raise problems for those serving hard scoop ice cream. With a proper soft serve unit, you can put these issues to rest. Featuring a compact design with temperature/consistency control, it really is as simple as drawing your ice cream and serving it up!
Conclusion
In the evolving landscape of the culinary world, soft serve ice cream has emerged as a versatile and profitable dessert option for a wide range of establishments. From its cost-effectiveness and high profit margins to its limitless customization possibilities, soft serve offers a compelling alternative to traditional hard scoop ice cream. The ability to create unique and nostalgic flavors, coupled with the operational efficiencies of modern soft serve machines, makes it an attractive choice for both high-end restaurants and family-owned businesses.
Recap:
- Explore Flavor Innovations: Take advantage of the flexibility of soft serve machines by experimenting with unique flavors and toppings that can set your establishment apart. Consider seasonal flavors or collaborations with local producers for a distinctive touch.
- Enhance Customer Experience: Create an engaging experience around your soft serve offerings. This could include interactive elements like customizable toppings bars or limited-time flavor specials that encourage repeat visits.
- Optimize Operations: Invest in high-quality soft serve machines, like Taylor equipment, that ensure consistent product quality and minimize operational issues. Proper maintenance and regular training for staff on machine use can further enhance efficiency.
- Leverage Nostalgia: Tap into the nostalgic appeal of soft serve by incorporating elements of classic ice cream experiences, to create a memorable and enjoyable experience for your customers.
By embracing the benefits of soft serve ice cream and implementing these strategies, your business can not only meet but exceed customer expectations, driving growth and enhancing your reputation in the competitive and lucrative dessert market.
