Local Vendor Spotlight: Pinocchio Ice Cream

Over the past month, we understand that our customers have had concerns surrounding food safety and order fulfillment as our company has adjusted to operating in a pandemic. To continue in our efforts to answer our customers’ questions, we’ve asked some of our vendors to share their story about operating during a health crisis.  

This is Tom’s story from Pinocchio Italian Ice Cream Co. and how COVID-19 has impacted his business. 

About Pinocchio Italian Ice Cream Co. 

Tom’s company started in 1981 by his father. Their distinguishing characteristic from other ice cream companies is that Pinocchio’s ice cream is sourced primarily from local ingredients. Their ice cream can be found in some Edmonton grocery stores (including Blush Lane!), in restaurants, as well as at fundraising events for schools and in the community.  

How COVID-19 has impacted their business

The Pinocchio team has felt changes to their business due to the recent health crisis, however they are feeling very lucky in a time that has been challenging for many. Tom shares that they have generally seen an increase in demand for their product which he assumes is because ice cream is a comfort food. Because COVID-19 has added stress into most people’s daily life, the demand for food that brings joy and comfort has increased! In addition, he also feels that the rise in sales is due to the fact that this crisis is driving people to buy and support local.  

What ways can you help? 

When we asked Tom what ways Spud customers can support him and his team, he asked for the community to continue to support local businesses when they can. He also mentioned that when he makes a delivery to the Spud warehouse that our warehouse team is “buried in boxes” and that he appreciates how hard our team is working to serve our customers. 

Final Thoughts 

To reassure the lovers of Pinocchio’s ice cream, Tom shares that his company has increased their safety standards by requiring all their team members to wear PPE (personal protective equipment) and they are routinely sanitizing all their equipment.