Devon House ice cream in supermarkets? Say what now?
If you’re tired of waiting in that long line at Devon House just to get ice cream, then I’ve got some great news for you! Jamaica’s most popular ice cream brand is hitting the retail scene.
This means you might soon find the world-famous Devon House iScream in supermarkets, convenience stores, and bakeries.
Wisynco Chairman William Mahfood gave us the scoop on Taking Stock.
“We are launching the retail product just this week,” he said
Now, I bet you didn’t know Wisynco was the one that distributes Devon House ice cream. Yup. Wisynco is a MAJOR player in the local food and beverage manufacturing and distribution sectors. They handle over 126 brands and more than 4000 products. Everything from Pringles to Wata to Nature Valley granola, Vineyard Town Vegan Ice Cream and of course, Devon House ice cream.
Last year, Wisynco raked in nearly J$50 billion in revenue. That’s about US$320 million. The stock closed trading on May 10 at J$20.33, or about US$0.13.
Their distribution network stretches across Jamaica, the Caribbean, the UK, and the USA.
According to Mahfood, the company also dominates Jamaica’s retail ice cream market. They account for about 90% of all retail ice cream sales in Jamaica.
Brands under their belt include Baskin-Robbins, Häagen-Dazs, Blue Bunny, Ben & Jerry’s, Nestlé Ice Cream, Magnum, Cremo, and Kremi.
Scoops Unlimited, the makers of Devon House Ice Cream, actually has a shared service agreement with Caribbean Cream, the makers of Kremi. They share finance, marketing and other expenses, so the two are like sister companies.
It seems Scoops Unlimited is aiming to expand the retail presence of the Devon House brand, with Wisynco playing a vital role in distributing Devon House ice cream for retail purposes.
This would allow customers to grab their favourite Devon House ice cream flavour at retail spots like supermarkets and convenience stores, not just Devon House outlets.
The expansion could signal a push into new markets and opportunities for global sales through exporting.
However, there are risks involved in going retail. If the retail version of Devon House ice cream doesn’t match up to the quality and uniqueness of the original stores, it could tarnish the brand’s premium status.
Customers might be disappointed if the taste, quality, or price of the retail product doesn’t meet expectations, potentially damaging the brand’s reputation.
Moreover, launching the retail product could potentially compete with sales from their flagship stores, leading to a drop in foot traffic and revenue.
But it’s going to be exciting to see one of the most anticipated food and beverage introductions hit the retail scene. Wisynco has some “bigga” plans ahead, including a new factory and new products, which will likely drive even bigger revenue.
And that’s the bottom line