Van Leeuwen Ice Cream
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food and beverage |
| Founded | January 1, 2008 in New York City, United States |
| Founder | Pete Van Leeuwen, Ben Van Leeuwen, Laura O'Neill |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | Ice cream |
| Website | vanleeuwenicecream |
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is a United States-based chain of ice cream parlor establishments.
History
Established in 2008 as a food truck in New York City, Van Leeuwen was founded by brothers Pete and Ben Van Leeuwen together with their Australian associate Laura O'Neill. Their vision focused on crafting a “cleaner ice cream” by incorporating premium ingredients sourced internationally, such as Ceylon cinnamon, pistachios from Sicily, and vanilla beans from Papua New Guinea. In 2020, the company received an $18.7 million investment from American private equity firm Nextworld. By 2022, Van Leeuwen had expanded to more than 70 outlets, including the launch of its 30th store.
In November 2022, Van Leeuwen reached a settlement with the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, agreeing to adhere to legislation mandating that retail locations accept cash payments. The business incurred $33,000 in civil fines after failing to comply with this law, which had been effective since November 2020, and for missing related administrative hearings.