Max Schwartz founded Jack & Jill Ice Cream Company by peddling ice cream in a box carried over his shoulder through the streets of Philadelphia ... the beginning of a thriving vending business.
In 1938, Max (Mickey) bought his first motorized vending truck, which eventually grew into an extremely successful street vending business. Then in 1939, the company created a vending machine division, which is now the largest in the country of its kind. Jack & Jill Ice Cream Company was able to provide better service than any other ice cream vending company because of its experience in frozen desserts and its neighborhood focus.
In 1973, Jay Schwartz, Mickey’s son, assumed leadership responsibility as president of Jack & Jill Ice Cream Co.. Jay saw great opportunities in wholesale distribution and began distributing leading national and regional ice cream brands. With continued growth and expansion of its product lines, Jack & Jill Ice Cream Company is recognized as a leader in the frozen desserts distribution industry.
By the mid 80’s, the Jack & Jill brand ice cream product line grew beyond its famous frozen novelties to include premium ice cream in half gallons, pints, quarts and bulk cans in addition to frozen yogurt, sherbet and water ices. In 1984, along with the growth in product line, Jack & Jill’s distribution area expanded to serve the Baltimore/Washington, D.C., markets. In 1992, Jack & Jill’s distribution expanded even further south to include the Norfolk/Richmond markets.
Jack & Jill Ice Cream Company prides itself on being constantly aware of consumers’ changing tastes and is dedicated to serving and meeting customers needs. With this in mind, Jack & Jill brand ice cream, introduced a line of sugar-free and no-sugar-added products, which addressed America’s desire for no fat, low-calorie, sugar-free desserts. These health conscious products were a forerunner of a new line of "better for you" frozen desserts introduced with the launch of the new Jack & Jill brand in 1997.
As a full service company, Jack & Jill Ice Cream Company handles a wide array of accounts, everything from food service and retail to street vending and wholesale. Consequently, the company has the capability of meeting all types of customer needs, no matter what their size.
In keeping with its heritage, Jack & Jill Ice Cream Company brings the delicious ice cream products consumers love to them wherever they go from the region’s finest restaurants and college cafeterias to area hospitals, nursing homes and famous sports arenas. Whether enjoyed in an elegant serving dish or on a stick, Jack & Jill Ice Cream continues to grow in popularity.
Along with servicing all these different types of accounts, Jack & Jill Ic e Cream Company has come to recognize their special needs. Jack & Jill Ice Company offers a full line of gourmet desserts from ice cream cakes and sorbets to dietary specialities such as single-serve fat-free, no-sugar-added ice cream and frozen yogurt in insulated cups and delicious non-dairy frozen desserts for those on special diets.
Today, Jack & Jill Ice Cream Company vending machines can be found everywhere from airports and office buildings to zoos, schools and hospitals.
In the past, Jack & Jill brand ice cream’s availability through retail outlets had been limited. However, in recent years the brand’s most notable expansion has been through its retail division with the growth of distribution in both supermarket as well as convenience store chains throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
One reason for this expansion is the quality and reliability of the company’s direct store delivery (DSD) service. In a large number of its retail accounts, it services the entire ice cream section, reducing the complexity for retailers, while increasing category profits. Another reason is the company’s tremendous product line. Not only does the company bring its Jack & Jill brand premium ice cream products directly to the store, the company also has the ability to bring in the leading national and regional brands.
Each year beginning in March through the end of October, the familiar ring of a Jack & Jill street vending ice cream truck can be heard. What started out in Philadephia in 1938 as a small vending business in the streets of Philadelphia with a single ice cream truck, has grown to include four additional operations.
Today, Jack & Jill Ice Cream trucks carry over 100 items, offering more than 75 different ice cream treats. And now, not only do they offer delicious Jack & Jill and national brand ice cream novelties, but candy, beverages and soft pretzels, too.
Traditionally, the Jack & Jill Ice Cream truck had been thought of primarily as a source of enjoyment for young children close to home. In recent years, the company has discovered that its trucks are also fun for the young at heart. Besides the standard neighborhood, playground, ball field and swimming pool stops, Jack & Jill has expanded its routes to include many business and industry locations.
The Jack & Jill Ice Cream Company’s ice cream vending machine operation helps to complement those food service accounts in which cafeteria services are limited. Jack & Jill Ice Cream Company is the largest ice cream vending company in the U.S. with over 2,000 ice cream vending machines in the Mid-Atlantic region.
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