At Itaberco, we believe every dessert and beverage artisan has a story worth sharing. The Tastemakers Series highlights the creators who inspire us - the chefs, entrepreneurs, and innovators turning their dedication and skill into thriving businesses. We’ve had the privilege of supporting them along the way, witnessing firsthand the creativity, problem-solving, and commitment that drive their success. Through these interviews, we explore their journeys, uncover lessons learned, and celebrate the people shaping the industry with their craft.
Beyond the Bike. Behind the Brand
Katherine Obrien’s Story
“I didn’t really have any thoughts on it turning into an actual career in the beginning… I just wanted to spend my time that I wasn’t working doing something for me…and it would be a bonus if I made a little extra money doing it.”
“I rolled with the punches, learned as I went, and eventually got to the point where I was selling the products faster than I had the ability to make them.”
“This broke me both mentally & financially….but it turned out to be the biggest blessing in disguise because my catering business is not only what I love the most….but it also is where I make the most money.”
“After my first summer selling ice cream, I realized I was bombarded with people just asking for that flavor. It became a top seller for almost 11 years.”
“My mission for the business has always been to recreate old school novelty items with a fun, unique twist. That’s why our handcrafted ice cream sandwiches and sorbet push pops – what we call our ‘sammies & pops’ – are so central. We don’t serve scooped ice cream or sundae bars like many other ice cream caterers, and that really sets us apart.”
“I’ve spent years perfecting the process, rebranding packaging, and making it an incredible experience for my customers….my big goal now is promoting it fully.”
Collaboration with Itaberco
“EVERYTHING! When I first was connected with Itaberco I knew absolutely nothing. I had zero culinary experience. I knew nothing about scaling a frozen dessert business. I had no idea how I was actually going to make this work. The reason I originally reached out to Itaberco was to help me learn how to keep up with my growth. I needed production systems. I needed recipes that made sense. I needed help with my packaging and processes. And Itaberco truly took me under their wing and taught me everything that I know now. They shaped my entire business into what it is today. And set me up with the tools to make my products efficiently and affordably.”
“I want to highlight the freezie pops. As I mentioned, my business’s mission is to recreate old school novelty items, and freezie pops came into play thanks to the Itaberco team. They created incredible recipes for me using their flavor compounds and the process is so simple and the freezie pops are so refreshing and delicious.I become more and more obsessed with the freezie pops every day.”
Advice for Others
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