Ice Cream Factory Ownership: Who Owns It & Where It’s Made

Few ice cream brands live up to their name quite like Ice Cream Factory—a company that runs a 90,000-square-foot production facility in Lebanon, Missouri. That plant just became the centerpiece of a strategic acquisition by PNC Brands Group, a move that ties together manufacturing capacity, brand stability, and a flagship product called Fanci Freez.

Majority stake acquired by: PNC Brands Group ·
Founded: 2019 by Shannon and Katie Imler ·
Location: Lebanon, Missouri ·
Facility size: 90,000 sq ft ·
Key product: Fanci Freez (flagship brand)

After the snapshot, here is a quick reference table of key facts.

Who owns the Ice Cream Factory?

The Ice Cream Factory is now majority-owned by PNC Brands Group, a parent company that also operates Pivot North Consulting Group and PNC Specialty Foods. According to Food Engineering (industry publication), the acquisition was finalized in 2024, giving PNC a controlling interest—though the exact stake and financial terms have not been disclosed.

Gail Kurpgeweit, a representative of PNC Brands Group, said the deal was driven by the need to secure long-term production stability for the company’s flagship frozen dessert brand, Fanci Freez. Just Food (industry news) reported that the acquisition ensures PNC has a dedicated manufacturing base rather than relying on third-party co-packers.

PNC Brands Group majority stake acquisition

• PNC Brands Group acquired a majority interest in Ice Cream Factory (Food Engineering)
• Ice Cream Factory was founded in 2019 by Shannon and Katie Imler (Just Food)
• The company makes handcrafted ice creams and provides co-manufacturing for regional and emerging brands (Just Food)

The implication: PNC Brands Group is consolidating production under a single roof, turning Ice Cream Factory into the manufacturing engine behind its frozen portfolio.

Where is Ice Cream Factory ice cream made?

All Ice Cream Factory ice cream is produced at one location: a refurbished 90,000-square-foot dairy plant in Lebanon, Missouri. According to Just Food, the facility was originally built in the 1940s and has been updated over the years. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, according to Food Processing (industry publication).

After the acquisition, the Lebanon plant will remain the company’s headquarters and main production site. Just Food confirmed that no relocation is planned. PNC intends to invest in facility upgrades: new processing lines, expanded frozen storage, and the addition of a savory production line, as reported by Food Processing.

Production in Lebanon, Missouri

The following table summarizes production details.

The pattern: turning an aging historic plant into a modern co-manufacturing hub.

What does Ice Cream Factory produce?

The company is known for handcrafted ice cream that it distributes in thousands of retail outlets nationwide. According to Food Processing, the distribution network spans the U.S. In addition to its own brands, Ice Cream Factory operates as a co-manufacturer for regional and emerging ice cream brands, as noted by Just Food.

For PNC Brands Group, the primary reason for the acquisition is to secure production capacity for Fanci Freez, a frozen dessert brand that had previously relied on third-party co-packers. Gail Kurpgeweit told Just Food that owning the factory gives PNC control over quality and supply chain.

The takeaway: co-manufacturing capacity may become a strategic asset for PNC.

Timeline: Key dates in Ice Cream Factory’s history

The facility’s story stretches back nearly a century, but the important milestones cluster around the past few years.

• 1940s: The dairy plant in Lebanon, Missouri, is built (Just Food)
• 2019: Shannon and Katie Imler found Ice Cream Factory (Just Food)
• 2024: PNC Brands Group acquires majority stake; plant remains headquarters; upgrade plans announced (Food Engineering; Food Processing)

Confirmed facts vs. What’s unclear

“The acquisition was driven by a need to secure long-term production stability for PNC’s flagship product, Fanci Freez.”

— Gail Kurpgeweit, PNC Brands Group representative, as reported by Just Food

The balance of known and unknown details helps put the acquisition in context.

For those interested in the brand’s broader footprint, our guide provides details on locations and menus across multiple states.

Frequently asked questions

PNC Brands Group’s acquisition of Ice Cream Factory turns a historic Missouri dairy plant into a controlled manufacturing asset for the company’s flagship Fanci Freez brand. For co-manufacturing clients that rely on Ice Cream Factory’s capacity, the question is whether PNC will remain a neutral partner or gradually shift the plant’s output toward its own labels. For the Lebanon community, the promise of 12–15 new jobs and upgraded facilities offers a concrete upside.