There is something in the way he stands. So straight and confident.
There is something in his smile. So warm and genuine.
There is something in his work ethic. So strong and unwavering.
Yes, there is “something.” Something truly special about Rosati Ice’s warehouse manager, Louis DiGiacomo who joined Rosati in April 2017.
This humble Purple Heart recipient, staff sergeant Marine (who is true to the motto, “Once a Marine always a Marine”) has a degree in accounting from Drexel (Yea, Dragons! my alma mater) and possesses a wealth of logistics knowledge.
Rosati sure needed Lou’s expertise last year and this year with COVID and the endless logistics challenges, from purchasing and receiving supplies, to producing and shipping Rosati’s refreshing Italian Ice all over the country.
Lou tackles every job and every challenge that come his way. Yes, even the untimely ones! When the freezer floor needed to be replaced, he brought his team together – Nick, Rick, and Bill – to tear up the old concrete floor and replace it with a new one. When the ceiling needed to be replaced in VP Operations’ Hamed Seresty’s office, again Lou worked with his guys to replace it. “Is there anything Lou can’t do?” I often think to myself.
Like a true Marine, Lou does what it takes to always get the job done. “In my 47-year working career, I’ve never met anyone with such a stellar work ethic. Not only does he arrive at our Rosati plant at the crack of dawn and work a full day, but he frequently works on Saturdays and brings work home.”
enjoy the friendly competition.
According to his co-worker and Rosati Ice’s logistics manager, Pat Schnell, “Lou is a true asset to Rosati Ice. His responsibilities cover a multitude of areas – warehouse management, purchasing, office assistant, and one of the best areas – supplying the office with delicious cookies and candy! And he makes a mean pot of coffee!
At any time, you may ask Lou for help; nothing is too small nor too large. He will spend whatever time is needed with you – most of the time it’s just ‘listening’, and putting a big smile on your face.
Lou is a Marine – Semper Fidelis, Always Faithful, which is shown to all associated with Rosati Ice. He is more than an associate; I am proud to call him my good friend.”
The accolades continue with Rosati Ice’s bookkeeper, Judy Dinn. “Louis is a tremendously hard working, dedicated Rosati team member; doing so with kindness and a positive attitude!”
Rosati Ice family.
Nick Jester, Rosati Ice’s E-Commerce manager agrees, “Lou is an extremely hard working and caring person. I usually see Lou’s car on Saturday mornings because he’s in the warehouse working overtime. At Rosati’s, we are such a small team and Lou is a most crucial member of our operation. Lou goes out of his way to help in every aspect of our business and it shows every day.”
Lou DiGiacomo proudly served our country with dignity and honor, and now proudly serves Rosati Ice’s vendors, employees and customers. Now, that is something special indeed! Semper Fi, Lou!
201 E. Madison Avenue, Clifton Heights, PA 19018
610-626-1818
How have your childhood memories influenced you? Perhaps you played with Legos for endless hours and aspired to be an architect or engineer. Maybe you designed and made your Barbie doll clothes (yep, that was me!) and dreamed of owning a chic boutique. Or, had an Italian ice stand on the front yard of your childhood home and hoped to own an Italian ice company.
For young singer/songwriter, Nicole Atkins, her childhood memories of living in New Jersey and hanging out at the Jersey shore, and in particular, Bruce Springsteen’s hometown of Asbury Park (and, yes, they know each other, she sung back up for “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”), inspired the name of her new release album “Italian Ice.”
Nicole fondly reminisces, “I grew up in a big Italian family. We always had a freezer full of Rosati Ice. In the 80’s and 90’s, the Weazer truck sold Rosati Ice and the same guy sells it today. We ended our day at the beach and/or our night on the boardwalk with a refreshing cup of Rosati Ice.” BTW, she even remembers the wooden spoons under the Rosati Ice’s cup lids.
Her favorite flavors? “Red and yellow.” Rich Trotter, President, Rosati Ice understands that comment, “as most kids buy a cup from a truck by the color and not the flavor.” (Who knew? Well, now you do!)
Nicole fondly remembers her singing idols – Judy Garland, Carole King (my favorites), Cass Elliott, and Janis Joplin. “I love old country. My genre is rooted in classic ‘brill building’ style mixed with psychedelic rock.”
Atkins continued, “Everyone loves the name of the CD, ‘Italian Ice.’ It brings up memories of family vacations.” On a personal note, “Italian Ice” is also her nickname when she is rolling dice at a bar after recording sessions.
“It’s the first words that came to mind!”
Deborah Reast, Rosati Ice’s social media manager, heard Nicole’s radio interview on WXPN-FM last year. Of course, her ears perked up when she heard the words “Italian Ice”!
With a CD named “Italian Ice”, of course the Rosati Ice folks couldn’t resist contacting her. (No brainer, right?!) Nick Jester, Rosati Ice’s e-commerce manager, shipped her samples. “I shared the Rosati Ice cups with my family, friends and band members. I knew they would love Rosati Ice as much as I do!”, claims Nicole.
This year, when Nicole’s 2020 Sellersville concert was rescheduled, we reached out to Zach Hundley, her manager, to brainstorm ways Rosati Ice could contribute to the evening.
To say the folks at Rosati Ice were beyond excited is an understatement. Following Nicole’s July 7th concert – where she performed her new songs: Domino, AM Gold, and Mind Eraser – the theater patrons were all treated to 10-oz Rosati Ice cups. “Everyone was SO excited,” Nicole boasts.
Nicole was kind enough to autograph her CD and her message is just perfect, isn’t it?
Nicole lives in Nashville with her husband, Ryan McHugh, a sound engineer. Her high energy, along with her sultry voice and songwriting talent, have led to her success. Italian Ice conjures up the romance and magic of the Jersey shore, a place close to Nicole’s heart and each song has its own special story.
When asked how COVID affected her CD launch, Nicole shares, “We wanted to work with a legit, old-school Italian ice company for this record. (Can you say ROSATI ICE?) Our plan was to promote the CD with an Italian ice cart on the boardwalk, but then Covid hit. We still hope to do this.”
What are your childhood memories of your favorite summertime treat? Like Nicole, we hope it’s Rosati Italian Ice and, why not, with its full-flavored, refreshing, deliciousness. Dairy-free and fat-free too! For a store or scoop shop near you, check out the Rosati Ice product locator at www.rosatiice.com.
Treat yourself to one of Nicole’s upcoming concerts. She’s appearing at the WXPN Xponential Music Festival, Camden Waterfront, September 17th. A link to her website and show schedule is below. If you’re unable to attend one of her concerts, purchase Nicole’s latest (and, of course, our favorite) album, Italian Ice!
It’s music to our ears!
Twitter: @Natkins
Who doesn’t enjoy going to a scoop shop, especially during the summer. The minute you walk in, it’s magical, with the bright, cheerful colors and the flavorful selections. And how about that cool vibe? The shiny glass freezers encourage you to peek inside. I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time choosing, as they all look oh so delicious.
Rosati’s newest scoop shop owner, Tracey Lipps, grew up in Hart, Michigan and purchased it six years ago from her in-laws, who owned the legendary shop since 1995. Since Tracey has always worked there, she knows the business, the customers, and the community.
While the scoop shop is relatively small, only 400 sq.ft., it makes a large impact by creating memories for the community and tourists with its lakeside location and Tracey’s creations.
Rosati Italian ice Quenches their Thirst and Their Taste Buds!
Tracey thrives on creating new concoctions. Imagine enjoying her “banana flutter nutter sundae. (You had me at banana!) It’s banana pudding ice cream with peanut butter sauce, whipped cream and a cherry” according to her facebook post.
Along with her passion, their location is definitely an asset. This quaint shop is near Silver Lake Sand Dunes and their customers stop in for a refreshing treat to cool off. Rosati Italian ice quenches their thirst and their taste buds!
So how did Rosati Ice’s cups get in Hart Dairy Delight? It’s a matter of channels of distribution. In March 2020, (right before the shutdowns) Rich Trotter, owner, Rosati Ice, participated in a food show with the folks at Cedar Crest Dairy. Their buyers immediately knew a good thing when they tasted Rosati’s full flavor Italian ice and ordered Rosati Ice in 2.5-gallon tubs, 6-ounce and 10-ounce grab-n-go cups.
Cedar Crest’s sales rep contacted Tracey about adding a dairy-free, nut-free frozen dessert option to her menu of soft and hard serve ice cream. “I like Rosati’s smoothness. It’s a great product. Rosati Italian ice fills a niche, since I don’t have room for a slushee machine,” claims Tracey.
Last season, Tracey added Rosati Ice’s 10-ounce cups in American Hero (strawberry lemonade) and mango, and she will do so this season. “It takes a full season to get the word out about a new item. Everyone that tried Rosati Italian Ice liked it! This spring, my customers started asking for Rosati Ice when I opened up for the season.”
Unbeknownst to many folks, the proceeds from the sale of Rosati’s American Hero cups go to support the mission of Soldier Strong – “helping veterans take their next steps forward in life.” This appealed to Tracey and resonated with her customers, so she proudly displayed our American Hero decal in her shop’s window. Why? Like us, Tracey supports a noteworthy cause – Operation Gratitude. According to their web site, their mission is “to forge bonds between Americans and their Military and First Responder Heroes …”
If you are like me and wonder what scoop shop owners do during their “off’ season, I couldn’t resist asking Tracey. She is involved with the Hart Economic & Redevelopment Team and books bands for the nearby park for their “Music on the Commons” events.
With all that this working mom does, I guess you could say Tracey is the “hart” and soul of her scoop shop and her beloved hometown.
Hart Dairy Delight
206 E. Main Street
Hart, MI 49420
231-742-1498
Like them on facebook: @HartDairyDelight
There’s been a lot written about the Kinsley ShopRite in Brodheadsville, PA. Sponsorship of the West End Fair. Opening of THE largest ShopRite in the world. Volunteer work with the fire company. “Partners in caring” fundraising event.
What has not been written about this family has been their willingness to be Rosati Ice’s “first.” “First” to carry Rosati Ice’s full flavor Italian ice year-round in their front endcap – a huge “first” as food stores typically stock Rosati Italian Ice only from Memorial Day until Labor Day. “First” to stock NEW scoopably delicious flavors – Rosati Ice’s Sugar FreeZ in cherry, lemon, and mango, and our fruit ices in cherry, lemon, and mango. And as of this week, “First” to carry our 6-oz Yellow Snow (white and lemon swirl) and Rosati Ice 6-oz Cry Baby sour cherry ice.
Unbeknownst to consumers, ShopRite stores have different business models than other supermarket chains. For example, their stores are “owned and operated by members” and the Kinsley family owns and operates “the largest ShopRite in the world.” Once you see and shop in this friendly store, you will be hard pressed to dispute this claim.
Comfy Upstairs Lounge, Unique Charm
At 100,000 square feet, the store is about twice the size of a football field. Just imagine the selections, the variety, the amenities! My favorite is the comfy upstairs lounge, Doris’ Café, named for the President’s mom. Relax, eat, and watch all the hustle and bustle below. Look down and see the model train that runs on tracks suspended above the checkout area. Lanes are designated by railroad crossings. I’m not kidding. It is such a fascinating and fun experience to enjoy all of this store’s offerings!
Despite its massive size, the store has a unique charm with the added feel of a mom-and-pop grocery. Personally, I dislike shopping in large stores, but this one is distinctly different. It really is fun to shop here, being surrounded by memorabilia from days gone by and a friendly, helpful team ready to assist. The big store also symbolizes the management’s big heart for helping in any way they can in their beloved community, from the homeless and hungry to the scouts and senior citizens.
At the helm, until his passing last fall was Robert Kinsley (shown below with me during Customer Appreciation Day spring 2019). Bob worked in the grocery business for more than 50 years. As a youngster, Bob assisted his father, Clayton, in the original Kinsley Market. Today, his family proudly continues his legacy with his son Chris, President, and Chris’s sister, DeeDee, as Vice President.
The family joined Wakefern Food Corp. In 1998. According to Chris Kinsley, Sr. “It was the right thing to do. ShopRite has a lot more powerful name recognition than ours did, especially with folks from New Jersey and New York moving to this area (lower Poconos). It was one of the best decisions we ever made becoming a ShopRite.”
serves as the store’s logo.
Family Sampled Flavors and Immediately Sold
Years ago, Rosati President Rich Trotter and I met with Chris and his parents – Doris and Bob. It was informal, friendly, and fun, as the family sampled different flavors. Chris agreed to give Rosati Ice a try because it’s a “summertime thing.” Rosati’s 10-ounce cups and 2.5-qt party pails were stocked in the front endcap – not just one or two shelves but the ENTIRE door! (I think we had a little divine intervention with this prime spot as Chris serves on church council at my brother-in-law’s church.)
Chris readily admits, “I like the variety of Rosati Ice flavors. People keep checking back. Rosati Ice cups are convenient, grab-n-go, easy to eat.”
Kinsley ShopRite carries Rosati 10-ounce cups in strawberry lemonade, cherry, chocolate, cotton candy/blue raz, lemon, lemon lime, mango, patriot, pineapple, root beer, and watermelon. (Say all that in one breath!) Plus, Rosati’s newest flavors in fruit ice and Sugar FreeZ. The store also stocks Rosati Ice’s 2.5-quart party pails in blue raz, cherry, lemon, mango, and rainbow. As customer Jim Radenhausen states, “too many flavors, too little time.”
Not only are their employees so incredibly helpful and polite, but Kinsley ShopRite customers are also the best!
I was there three times giving out samples and had a blast!!! It was fun to hear Bob Hunt make the announcement each time about “the Philly girl is here scooping Rosati Ice.” Rosati Ice’s newest fan, Jim Radenhausen, recalls “We got the Rosati rainbow and it’s very tasty. I’ve always hoped to see an ice tub especially an affordable one, so this was a welcome addition to see.”
What started in July 2019 as a vendor/customer relationship has become a “win-win for everyone,” claims Chris Kinsley, Sr. He likes Rosati’s “proactive approach” and Rosati’s product is a good seller.” Rosati Ice is truly thankful to be their “first.” And yes, Rosati Ice is the nation’s FIRST Italian ice company and now partnering with the world’s largest ShopRite. What a sweet deal!
Kinsleys ShopRite
107 Kinsley Drive
Brodheadsville, PA 18322
570-992-2666
Facebook: @KinsleysShopRite
YouTube: https://youtu.be/NbpO6Ps7hAw
Hi! My name is Emily. As many of you can relate, I have many roles, but the most important role is being “Mom”. I received this title 10 years ago. TEN whole years in this role, and I still can’t believe I’ve been so blessed. There have been many changes over the last decade. Not only have my kiddos grown into and out of a variety of stages, but my parenting style has changed, as well.
I often go down a proverbial rabbit hole skimming through my camera roll, scrolling through so many “snapshots” of the big and little moments I’ve had with my young family. There are obvious changes: a move, haircuts, baby to toddler to kid to preteen children’s interests, and TEETH (how can something as simple as teeth age a child instantly)?! My kiddos are always the major focus my camera points to every time. I have caught so many of THEIR changes, but what about mine (and yours)?
I had my first three babies within three years. Whew! So much change and it happened quickly. I remember being at the park after pre-school one day and I watched as a little boy, the same age as my oldest, splashed in the puddle at the bottom of a slide. This young child was the definition of pure joy. In this early stage of motherhood, I was not a big fan of messy play. I preferred dressing the kiddos in matching outfits. I was not interested in Pinning about how to remove mud stains out of a bougie baby headband. As I watched this boy happily play, my thinking was immediately transformed. Not only did I want my children to be filled with this much joy and laughter, but I also hoped they could forevermore find happiness in something as simple as a puddle.
When I go through my camera roll, I recognize MY change. I celebrate MY change. There are fewer staged pictures with crisp clothing and many more pictures of my kids looking sweaty, dirty, and rosy-cheeked. This has been one of my favorite stages of Motherhood. Letting go of neat and tidy, and embracing the mess! Now I find myself praising my children saying, “there’s nothing I love more than seeing you sweaty messy”. They giggle at me. It doesn’t hurt that this level of play usually yields sleepy children, too! The only thing that can make all of us happier in these messy moments is rewarding them with a cup of Rosati Italian ice. Picture your own family; worn out kiddos, sitting in their playhouse in the backyard while scarfing down Philadelphia’s iconic frozen treat. It’s dairy-free, nut-free, and gluten-free so allergies are never a worry for us moms.
Reminding all Moms and Dads: The days are long, but the years are short. This Mother’s Day weekend, have your kiddies’ scoot over close to you in that messy moment. Enjoy the family hugs and treat one and all to some Rosati Italian Ice to celebrate all the ways you have grown in your beloved role. Oh! And don’t forget to snap a photo. In 10 years (and probably before then), this memory will give you a warm, fuzzy feeling and make you smile…kind of like Rosati Ice. Over 100 years of smiles! 😉
Happy Mother’s Day!
Did you know that smiling releases endorphins, which help a person feel happier and more positive?
We sure need smiles and that’s exactly what Joel Hughes, VP Operations, Smile Ice Cream, sees every day. In fact, recently his wholesale customer stopped in the office smiling from ear to ear upon discovering he got Rosati Italian Ice back.
“You got it back! You got it in!” Yes, the Norfolk-based distributor placed his first order with Rosati Ice in March 2020 and his first order of the season this January. And since then, it has been “smiles” for everyone.
“Ice Cream is Joyful and Fun.”
Joel is no stranger to the food business, having started his career when he was just 16. Throughout college, he waited on and bussed tables. He readily admits, “I like the movement and fluidness of the industry, plus working with people.” Your friends at Rosati Ice wholeheartedly agree!
Formerly, Jumpin G’s, Smile Ice Cream started in 2003 with a few ice cream trucks. In 2010, they got into the DSD business and in 2012, Smile branched out to service schools and restaurants.
Today, the company’s 20 neighborhood ice cream trucks bring the treats… and the smiles to everyone along their routes.
While last year was challenging for all, Joel states, “our trucks did very well with folks being home. The rest of our business suffered, but luckily, we had both segments to keep us going.”
We would be remiss in not mentioning Shannon Best, their “Jane of all trades.” Joel boasted about his office manager – Shannon – “she is the glue that holds it all together.”
Their desire to carry Rosati Italian Ice started when their seasonal customers bought Italian ice at a restaurant supply store that only carried 2.5-gallon tubs and offered no point-of-sale items. Joel quickly “saw a desire for customers wanting something new.”
“No Brainer to Carry Rosati Ice. It was an easy switch.”
Joel was just about to seek out a more versatile vendor and, as fate would have it, Rich Trotter, Rosati Ice President, visited with Joel last February. Rich, in his usual upbeat selling style, simply offered Joel a taste of Rosati’s refreshing, full flavor Italian Ice. Joel recalls, “It was a no brainer to carry Rosati Ice cups and tubs. It was an easy switch.”
During the 2020 season, Smile ice Cream carried Rosati Ice’s 6-ounce cups in Crybaby sour apple and sour cherry, Crybaby sour watermelon and rosy ‘moji (cotton candy blue raz). Rosati Ice 10-ounce cups of cotton candy blue raz, mango, lemon, American Hero (strawberry lemonade) and watermelon. Their ice cream truck staff scooped from Rosati Ice 2.5-gallon tubs in cherry, lemon, watermelon, blue raz, mango, tropical rainbow, and strawberry lemonade.
Like many of Rosati Ice’s distributors, Smile Ice Cream’s top selling Rosati Ice items in 2020 were 6-ounce rosy’ moji cups, 10-ounce American hero cups and 2.5-gallon tubs of blue raz.
Thanks to Joel’s outreach, for the first time, Rosati Ice is in scoop shops and other venues in Newport News, Virginia Beach and Norfolk. For example, both Motor World and Sugar Kingdom carry Rosati Ice’s 2.5-gallon tubs. “I love sampling people on Rosati Ice,” explains Joel.
This season, Joel is eager to sell Rosati Ice’s NEW 6-ounce Yellow Snow Italian ice cups.
Let’s all smile more as we put the challenges of last year behind us and enjoy simple pleasures like a scoopably delicious cup of Rosati Italian ice.
Smile Ice Cream Distributors
3387 Progress Road
Norfolk, VA 23502
757-644-5625
We all need the kindness of friends, especially now. Rosati’s relationship with their newest customer – Weaver Markets in Denver, PA – an old-fashioned, family-owned quality supermarket since 1968 – started with an inquiry from JoAnn Buckwalter to Don Rutt, their Frozen Food Manager.
Luckily for Rosati, JoAnn is a HUGE fan of Rosati Ice’s full flavor, scoopably delicious Italian ice and also is a high school classmate of Rosati Ice’s owner, Rich Trotter. (We won’t tell you what year they graduated…)
JoAnn, an Adamstown resident, has been shopping at Weaver Markets for 25 years and often wondered why they didn’t carry Rosati Italian ice. Not known to be shy, JoAnn approached Don Rutt and he explained that he purchased Rosati Italian ice years ago when Rosati cups were sold in boxes. She was determined to make a sale and Don asked her to “call her boss”. JoAnn’s exuberance and curiosity paid off!
Rosati delivered 10-ounce cups in twenty flavors and 2.5-quart party pails in five flavors to the store in June. Traditionally, Rosati Ice is sold seasonally in food stores, but, at Weaver Markets, Rosati Ice 10-ounce cups and 2.5-quart party pails are sold all year long.
Smooth Texture. Variety of Flavors!
Unlike other national brands, Don likes the smooth texture, that Rosati is known for, and the variety of Rosati’s flavors. When asked what are his top selling Rosati flavors, Don states, “Root beer is the best, followed by mango, cherry, and blue raz. One of my coworkers bought a WHOLE case of 10-ounce chocolate cups. Rosati’s 10-ounce coconut cup is the go-to refreshing treat of one customer. “When I couldn’t get Rosati in, some people had a fit.” (Yep, that’s what he said!)
Rosati’s 2-quart party pails are found in two spots in the frozen food section – stocked with 5-quart tubs of ice cream. “Rosati sells better there with the bulk items,” claims Don. Rosati’s 10-ounce cups are in coffin cases (strange word to describe a freezer!) along with Rosati’s new 99-calorie Sugar FreeZ 10-ounce cups in cherry, lemon and mango and Rosati’s new fruit ice 10-ounce cups – made with 100% juice – in cherry, lemon, and mango. What a selection!
Ideal Demographics. Rosati Ice Sells Well Here Even in Winter
The location of Weaver Markets and the store’s demographics are a big plus for Rosati. According to Rutt, “There are older housing developments nearby and people walk to the store.” JoAnn adds, “This is a unique area. People come from all over to ‘Antique America’. There are extravaganzas and the hotels are filled. Rosati ice will sell well here, even in the winter.”
Weaver Markets “support and strengthen the surrounding community in every way possible,” according to their web site. For example, with five different school districts nearby, the Weaver folks support each school’s fundraisers. “All of them get their turn and receive 25% of the revenue from The Wagon,” states Don, a 35-year store employee.
JoAnn is a Rosati Ice treasure who is greatly appreciated! “It is especially gratifying to have a longtime good friend who not only recommends your business but solicits the customer directly”, says Rich Trotter, Rosati Ice owner. She visits Weaver Markets twice a week and straightens out the stock for a pleasing display. While she’s there, she can’t resist buying some Rosati Ice cotton candy/blue raz to bring home. Thank goodness for the kindness of friends! Thanks, Don Rutt and JoAnn Buckwalter for bringing our Italian Ices into your favorite store! Visit Weaver Markets today!!
2610 N. Reading Rd
Denver, PA 17517
717-484-4302
One of Rosati Ice’s newest distributors, Pointe Dairy, is “a family-owned wholesale food and dairy distribution company serving metro Detroit and beyond,” according to its website, www.pointedairy.com
“Family” is the most important word in the description. Joseph Selvaggio founded the company in 1968 and it’s currently run by his three sons – Anthony, Alex and Joseph, Jr.
Even the PM, Ken George, found his way to the company through “family.” In 1977, his wife, Terri worked for a food store, one of Pointe Dairy’s customer’s.
Unlike many of Rosati’s other distributors, Pointe Dairy is “close to a broadline distributor. We have over 3500 items that we sell to party stores, nursing homes, restaurants. You name it, we handle it”, states Ken.
When asked how they dealt with COVID 19, Ken admits, “In the beginning, it was a nightmare, as restaurants were forced to shut down and we had fewer trucks making deliveries. Fortunately, our retail business went up with single-serve, multi-packs. We held our own and adapted very well.”
Families’ food needs were vital this spring, so Pointe Dairy donated pallets of food intended for the restaurants to Forgotten Harvest and – thru a local Masonic lodge – Feeding the Hungry.
Working at Pointe Dairy for decades, Ken has a great grasp on the industry. “Everyone is getting their fingers in others’ items. It’s becoming a ‘me-too business.’ To distinguish ourselves, we handle different items and high-quality items. For example, we started selling hemp items to area coffee shops.”
Most of our distributor relationships started in person at food shows and this one is no exception. After Joe met Rosati Ice’s owner, Rich Trotter, at a food show, he decided to carry our 2.5-gallon tubs and 10-ounce grab-n-go cups for the dip stores in their area called Whippi Dip (similar to Dairy Queen).
Pointe Dairy is proud to be a master distributor for Unilever, which puts Rosati Ice alongside the nation’s best ice cream and novelty brands including Breyers, Ben & Jerry’s, Mars, Talenti, and Good Humor. “With the addition of dairy-free, nut-free Rosati Ice, our summers have gotten busier.”
Due to increased demand for dairy-free frozen desserts, Pointe Dairy now sells Rosati Ice’s 2.5-gallon tubs to restaurants and scoop shops and their 10-ounce cups to mobile vendors. “Ken states, “Ice cream trucks ask for the Rosati Ice 10-ounce cups, available here in cotton candy/blue raz, cherry, Cry baby sour apple, lemon, mango, patriot, and watermelon. They are a huge seller! Would love to get Rosati’s 4.4- ounce cups into our schools,” admits George.
And why not? “Rosati Ice’s taste is phenomenal with smooth texture, which holds up well in temperature variations.”
Italian Ice Slushie
Shari Mazzetti, owner, Modern Cone scoop shop, wholeheartedly agrees. “We sell a lot of Rosati. It is very popular, you have no idea! We make an Italian ice slush. Our customers expect Rosati Ice and when we don’t have it, they are upset and disappointed.”
Shari buys a few SKU’s of the 2.5-gallon tubs from Pointe Dairy, who carries Rosati Ice in blue raspberry, cherry, rainbow, cotton candy, lemon, mango, strawberry lemonade, and watermelon.
Three family-owned businesses working together to bring smiles to customers’ faces – manufacturer Rosati Ice, distributor Pointe Dairy and scoop shop Modern Cone! With Rosati Ice, it truly is ‘all in the family’!!
2716 American Drive
Troy, MI 48083
248-589-7700
Facebook: @pointedairyservices
Instagram: pointe_dairyservices
Twitter: @PointeDairy
“Be careful what you wish for.” If you are Rosati Ice’s Nate Todd, K-12 school sales associate, he is truly blessed that what he wished for did indeed come true and his career led him to Rosati ice.
After graduation from college, which he admits “was a great experience”, Nate explored an opportunity with his close friend’s father’s business – selling Polish brand water ice. “We almost franchised it,” admits Nate from Fort Wayne, Indiana. I fell in love with the product, but people in the Midwest have no clue what water ice is. Thankfully, the deal fell thru. We successfully failed.”
One door closed and another one quickly opened. Nate recalls meeting Rich Trotter, owner, Rosati Ice at the national school nutrition conference in Dallas. Nate was eager to have a mentor in the Italian ice business so he and Rich simultaneously reached out to Tom Curyto about utilizing Nate to sell both Rosati Ice and Polish Ice to the K-12 school industry.
Todd started with Rosati in 2012 and felt “complete clarity. I knew this is where I am supposed to be.” Nate is blown away by how Rich Trotter “leads and serves.”
Unique in his ability to genuinely connect with people
And the admiration is mutual. Rich states, “Nate is unique in his ability to genuinely connect with people and share the Rosati Ice mission of making school lunches more fun with our dairy-free, frozen fruit juice cups that are naturally colored with no added sugar and meet the fruit requirement for school lunches. Nate represents himself, his family and the Rosati family well with everyone he meets. Nate needs little supervision. For years, he has traveled the country spreading the good news of Rosati Ice and steadily growing our business in over thirty states. He is loved by all with whom he comes in contact.”
His coworker, Sean Trotter continues “Nate is a devoted father and husband, who cares deeply for everyone around him. He and his wife Amber are raising three (soon to be four) beautiful children, and as a member of the Rosati family, he brings this same spirit into his daily work. Nate has an honest desire to be a source of joy to everyone he meets. Approaching his work in this way, allows him to serve his/our customers with grace, and to ultimately bring more smiles into the cafeterias of the schools that we serve.
What we do and what we offer is better than anyone’s.
While schools in the areas Nate covers – Southern CA, TX, NC, S, GA, MD, VA, PA – are trying to figure out the guidelines for in-school learning, he is sensitive to this unique time with the school lunch programs. He readily admits, “What we do and what we offer is better than anyone’s. It’s so exciting!”
Nate’s passion, enthusiasm and spirituality shines through even on phone calls and all throughout this interview. Father of three young children, ages 6, 4, and 2 and a 4th child due in December, Nate teases “We are consistent, having a child every two years.”
When asked what he likes about his job, Nate is quick to answer. “Oh man, I love my job! I am so grateful! The opportunity to meet with child nutrition directors is golden. When I started, many of them were older than me and they had a motherly relationship with me. The work-life balance is ideal! It’s an honor to represent Rosati Ice while providing for my growing family.”
Nate’s impact on the school sales has been noteworthy. Through his diligence, schools in NC, SC, MD and VA have Rosati Ice’s 4.4-ounce cups made with pure apple juice that are Smart Snack approved and meet school nutritional guidelines.
No matter how this school year unfolds, Nate says “This is the time for us to shine.” And we will in schools across the country from sea to shining sea!
Check out www.rosatiice.com for more info on Rosati Ice’s K-12 school cups and for a seasonal pre-order form.
Consumers are the BREAD AND BUTTER of every food manufacturer and Rosati Ice is no exception. Founder Sam Rosati was ONE SMART COOKIE to develop hand-cranked Italian ices in his basement’s home in Philadelphia in 1912.
Throughout the decades, Rosati Ice USED THEIR NOODLE to address not only consumers’ food allergies and dietary restrictions, but product safety too, while consistently producing a delicious, scoopable frozen treat.
“Rosati Italian Icse have great flavor and consistency. I had cherry and chocolate flavors and they were yummy. It reminded me of this old Italian guy in my hometown that made incredible ice and sold it at a roadside stand.” – Doug S., Greenville, SC.
Food Allergies
Rosati Ice, along with their distributors, acknowledge that people who are lactose intolerant and/or have nut allergies are unable to eat ice cream and diary-based novelties. Rosati Ice successfully satisfied their cravings. All products – 4.4-ounce, 6-ounce and 10-ounce cups, 2-quart party pails, and 2.5-gallon tubs are made in a dairy-free, nut-free, gluten-free plant.
Dietary Restrictions
Consumers have spoken out again and we listened. Their requests for sugar-free Italian ices prompted Rosati Ice to develop SugarFreeZ in three flavors in 10-ounce cups: lemon, cherry and mango – which were sold in selected food chains this most recent summer.
“I am so happy I can enjoy Rosati Ice in the new sugar-free flavors that are stocked at the Kinsley ShopRite in Brodheadsville.” – Laura S., PA
Tamper-Proof Lids, Clear Cups
Consumers want affordable, grab-n-go treats. For the food stores, Rosati Ice developed 10-ounce cups in almost two dozen flavors. For product safety, all 10-ounce Rosati Ice cups are sealed with tamper-proof lids. Because of the clear Rosati cup, what the shopper sees inside is what they get. They can easily see the bright oranges, reds, yellows, and blues, designating the full flavor inside each and every 10-ounce cup. Just ask Jane.
“I ate Rosati water ice as a kid. I recognized the rose on the 10-ounce cup packaging at Acme. The BEST water ice!!! Bought two containers. I have party pails from last summer and still tastes good. LOVE it!” – Jane Y., NJ
To consumers like Doug, Laura, Jane and hundreds of others, they know Rosati Ice is the GREATEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD. Who wouldn’t agree? Once you taste your first spoonful, you will be hooked.
Now, you can HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO! Rosati Ice in 6-ounce and 10-ounce cups and 2.5 gallon tubs can be purchased all year from our office/plant/warehouse in suburban Philadelphia, M-F from 8-4. Please call 610-626-1818 to check inventory for your flavors. Please go to the product section of our Rosati Ice web site – www.rosatiice.com – for a complete list of all of Rosati Ice’s flavors.