Humboldt Creamery sells ice cream nationally through Walmart
FERNBRIDGE, Calif. - The Humboldt Creamery is now selling its organic ice cream nationwide at Walmart stores.
Plant Manager Mike Callihan said about 3,200 stores would sell their ice cream through a deal it made with the retail giant.
Callihan said this is the first time the creamery would be selling a product across the country under its own label. It currently only distributes products across California and the Pacific Northwest.
The creamery already manufactures vanilla ice cream for Costco Wholesale under their Kirkland Signature house brand. He said he was excited for the future.
"I think it's a great time for Humboldt Creamery and only more good things coming our way," he said.
Callihan said four flavors would be available in stores. Those would be vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and mint chip. Vanilla has so far been the most popular flavor among consumers.
With the distribution expansion, Callihan said it would be positive not only for workers and local dairy farmers, but Humboldt County as a whole.
"Local is a very important part of our business plan," he said. "We provide local jobs, support local dairy farming, and also send our products to local markets where people can purchase it."
Supervisor Rex Bohn said he estimated the economic impact Humboldt Creamery had on the local economy to be in the millions of dollars. He felt the Walmart deal would only help the economy grow.
"It adds people in the production line," he said. "It adds transport. It adds so many different variations to what can come out of that little operation that's evolved into what it is today in downtown Fernbridge."
