Chicago Soydairy
Friends and business partners Ryan Howard and Dan Ziegler shared a dream of creating great tasting, healthy desserts that had minimal impact on the environment. Both committed vegans, Dan and Ryan saw a need in the underserved vegan market for a delicious, specialty non-dairy ice cream. Temptation Vegan Ice Cream is the product of that dream.
Initially, Ryan and Dan struggled with the packaging of their ice cream - it was bulky and expensive and they wanted to update it. They received a $10,000 Challenge Grant from CCV to help with the costs associated with designing and creating new packaging. Temptation's move from costly and awkward packaging was not only cost effective; it allowed them to stock more product on the shelf, thus boosting sales.
Today, only five years after opening their doors, Chicago Soydairy has become a successful and profitable reality thanks in part to CCV's help. With four full-time employees, Temptation Vegan Ice Cream can be found nation-wide in retailers such as Whole Foods and Wild Oats. Temptation Vegan Ice Cream is made with Fair Trade Certified ingredients and has won the PETA2 award for Best Vegan Ice Cream.
Much of Chicago Soydairy's electricity is generated from wind and solar energy and, amazingly, they only throw away one bag of trash per month! According to Ryan, "CCV has been such a valuable tool. You can have all the hopes and dreams you want, but without partners like CCV you can't make them a reality. They really understand the challenges small businesses face."
For more information on Chicago Soydairy and their Temptation Vegan Ice Cream, visit www.chicagosoydairy.com.