In ice cream, perhaps there’s no better pairing of ingredients than the rich cream of Michigan milk (distributed by the Michigan Milk Producers Association) and the sweetness of Michigan sugar beets (from Michigan Sugar). At least that’s the recipe of Michigan Cream & Sugar Ice Cream Company. 

General Manager Tim Mangan knew that it would take more than just fabulous ingredients to run a successful small business. He reached out to the Michigan SBDC, where he met Consultant Michelle Judd. “I sought assistance with managing the business, marketing and sales, e-commerce and applying for grants. Michelle was especially helpful with our grant proposals – she offered great advice on how to research our applications and make them more persuasive,” said Tim. 

Beyond the basics of sugar and cream, the freshly churned, locally sourced ice cream comes in a wide variety of signature flavors such as 24-Carrot Cake, Caramel Sweet Corn and Uptown Choffee. Revenues have nearly doubled year over year, in part due to Cream & Sugar’s wildly successful flavor of the week program. And although Michigan Cream & Sugar Ice Cream Company is still a seasonal brick and mortar business that shuts down in the dead of winter, its catering and e-commerce offerings have extended its sales season into the holidays. 

“Our mailing list has doubled, our brand awareness has grown, and we’re putting smiles on faces,” Tim observed. “We’re starting construction on a new building, and we’re going to need to hire. This is a people business. If you put people first, they will reward you.”