Once a novelty, vegan alternatives to popular dairy products are now commonplace, but the real difficulty is creating a product that people not only want to try, but come back to again and again. That’s the challenge that Ellen Coatney, founder Fifth Scoop, faced when she set out to create her line of plant-based ice cream.
A standard pint of ice cream contains four scoops, but Ellen’s goal was to keep her customers hooked so they’d come back for more, hence the name Fifth Scoop.
“It’s really easy to get vegans to try a new product, but a lot of vegan ice cream is underwhelming. They buy one pint and don’t get another,” Ellen said, “I want to create a brand where they like it so much, they come back.”
Fifth Scoop is Ellen’s solution to that problem, with a variety of plant-based frozen desserts that promise “flavors with flair,” such as Strawberry Shortcake and Lemonmellow, that don’t just appeal to vegans, but for all those who want to expand their ice cream preferences.
While Ellen was initially inspired to create Fifth Scoop after listening to a vegan friend’s struggle to find delicious vegan ice cream, it did not end there. As she began researching the environmental impact of the dairy and meat industry, she grew even more passionate about her craft.
“That’s what cemented this as something I was passionate about, not just for people who can’t eat dairy, but for those who want to reduce their carbon footprint,” she said.
Ellen’s passion for the environment and her commitment to high-quality products can be shared with every pint of Fifth Scoop, where “sustainable meets delicious,” according to their website.
Fans of Fifth Scoop can look forward to even more from the brand, as Ellen has been experimenting with a variety of constantly changing flavors and products to bring her vision to life. Recently, she has been working on expanding her product line to include birthday cakes, custom orders and more.
Since creating Fifth Scoop last spring, Ellen has said her proudest achievement to date has been coming to farmers’ markets and getting to know her customers directly.
“I think my proudest accomplishment was coming to the market and meeting my customers face-to-face, being able to hear from them directly and give out samples. It’s given people the chance to get to know me, especially from repeat customers,” she said.
Ellen has become a familiar face at the market this season with her well-loved Peach Pie and Buckeye flavors, alongside her underrated Coconut Vanilla flavor, which she promises pairs especially well in root beer floats.
Be sure to come down to the Monroe Street Farmers’ Market Sundays 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to meet Ellen Coatney, learn more about Fifth Scoop and even try a sample or two!