This spring, Ultimate Ice Cream plans to put its pints on grocery store shelves.
Owners Kevin and Lucia Barnes have bought an ice-cream factory. (Maybe the more appropriate term for it is a production facility, but Xpress is a sucker for Willy-Wonka-esque imagery.)
“We're hoping to have more of a regional name,” Lucia says.
The east Asheville building, which does not have a retail component, is undergoing renovations, so the Barnes' haven't decided exactly what flavors they will sell wholesale. “One of the things we like to do is work with local producers, so we would like to feature some of our favorites if we can work out that with other folks,” Lucia says. Buchi Kombucha and Zuma Cookies could be among the products featured in wholesale flavors.
Plans for the production building include solar panels and green upgrades. But right from the get-go, one thing is certain: “We're going to have to have a lot of freezer room,” Lucia says.
Ultimate Ice Cream stores are located at 1070 Tunnel Road and 195 Charlotte St. For more information, visit ultimateicecreamasheville.com.
