Welcome to Valpo Velvet Ice Cream Company                

 

 

“We take great pride in continuing to make Indiana’s Finest Ice Cream.”

Our small ice cream plant is unique because we still make all of our products from scratch. This means that we homogenize and pasteurize the cream and other ingredients to produce our own mix, which we use to produce all of our flavors.

Gordon Brown attributed the quality of his product to the basic mix he and his father developed in Valparaiso. The mix consists of cream, sugar, non-fat milk, corn syrup and gelatin. Very few companies still use gelatin as a stabilizer, Brown said, noting that gelatin is a natural product. We use fresh ingredients and more solids, but they have to be balanced. Too much solids and you get a sandy or soggy product. A lot of ice cream makers don’t even make their own mix anymore. Gordon Brown also said that the speed of handling also affects flavor and quality. We freeze Valpo Velvet in a way which causes fewer ice crystals to form. After freezing the ice cream, we put it in the hardening room. We spread it out to get plenty of air movement, and by allowing this circulation, we have a smoother product. It is stored in our hardening room until it is ready to be delivered to stores and restaurants. That makes Valpo Velvet products as fresh as ice cream can be.

We take great pride in continuing to make Indiana’s Finest Ice Cream. We are constantly adding new flavors to meet the ever changing needs of today’s market. We have the best premium ice cream on the market and hope that you have the chance to try it. You will not be disappointed!

 

 

 

 

 

* A note to our customers regarding the practice of downsizing.

 

I am sure you have noticed, over the course of the last 2 years, most food companies are downsizing their product size, yet keeping the prices the same, to cover increased costs and increase their profits.   Most companies started with a subtle change and went to a 56 ounce container, instead of the standard half gallon, which is 64 ounces. Now they are going to a 48 ounce container, thus keeping your price the same but taking away 16 ounces of ice cream. At Valpo Velvet, we are one of the few companies in the country still making a standard "half gallon".  We want you to know that is why our ice cream cost more than the competitors. Also, if  you pick up a container of Valpo Velvet, you will immediately notice it is a much heavier product.  Valpo Velvet also does not believe in pumping air into their product to extend the quantity.

 

We understand that many businesses are struggling in this economy, but we have always been committed to making the best gourmet ice cream possible using only the highest quality ingredients. We do not believe that shrinking our 64 oz. half gallon is the solution.  We will always be dedicated to giving our loyal customers a fantastic ice cream at a fair price. We hope you will continue to purchase The World"s Greatest Ice Cream.

 

 

Thank You,

 

The Brown Family

 

 

 

   *A note about Wal-Mart and Valpo Velvet Ice Cream 

This is the actual message on Wal-Mart's front page......

At Wal-Mart, we work hard to ensure that the products on our shelves meet the unique needs and wants of every community we serve. That means that we partner with thousands of suppliers in every merchandise category that range from one person shops, to multi-national corporations. Some sell products in just a few stores, others supply nationwide. Maintaining a diverse mix is the key to our success. 
 
 
 
To all of our loyal customers: That note above is actually from Wal-Mart's website, quite contradictory to how they actually do business.  A lot of people have asked us to keep you updated our situation at Wal-Mart. After months of trying to keep our ice cream in Wal-mart, and months of Wal-Mart moving us, taking us out, and putting our product in the back room, they finally told us that Corporate did not want us in anymore. So we are officially out of Portage, Michigan City, and Valparaiso, a blanket decision....with no explanation, but it is not hard to notice that they put a cheaper product on the shelf, one that definitely will make THEM a higher profit. This was our biggest account, and our sales were strong. We know a lot of our loyal customers went to Wal-Mart to get our ice cream and we just want you all to know that it certainly was not our doing to have it removed. We did everything right, but ultimately greed won out.  We are not sure if there is anything that will change the decisions of people sitting down at the corporate office, but at least we can let them know that their rash decisions actually affect people in America. We have come to the conclusion that Wal-Mart claims they support the local guy, but in reality, that is not true. They have also kicked out other local businesses out of their stores in the last couple of months.  They make profits the way they want to, and then give back to the community on their terms.
 
Anyway, the most we can do is let them know that their actions have consequences. The store in Wal-Mart has already received many phone calls and in-store complaints from displeased customers. They have told people they are keeping track of all complaints and sending them to Corporate. So, if you have the time, we would appreciate one last shout out from you, if it doesn't change their mind, it will certainly annoy them and let them know the power of a small community. We have stopped shopping there, and apparently, we are not alone. We are finding out through this experience, just how many people have already stopped shopping there, because of their core values. 
 
Please feel free to pass this email along to all of your friends and family.  We want them to know that their "office" decisions have an impact on real families in a real town.  We are not sure where everyone bought our product, but we have provided all the store number and phone numbers to all, including the corporate phone number. 
 
Don't forget that Valpo Velvet is sold at our downtown shoppe, and I should let all of you know, that this will be the first winter that we will be staying open. We have decided to open up The Valpo Velvet Shoppe again, where we sell Gourmet Sandwiches and Soups. We will close in November for some small remodeling projects, and reopen in December. We hope you will visit us for lunch.
 
 
 Thanks to all of you for keeping us in business for 62 years, we appreciate it more than you know. And if you received this email and don't buy our product, please disregard..and of you received it 2 or 3 times i totally apologize....(we are not too adept at filtering our contact book)  We appreciate all of our loyal customers.....and despite Wal-Mart, we will continue to make "Indiana's Finest Ice Cream"!


Email for complaints, comments, etc...use store number when leaving comment (Valpo store # is 1479) (Portage Store # is 2544) and (Michigan City is Store #1487)
 
 
Corporate Office Phone
479-273-4000
 
 
Customer Service Phone for customer complaints
1-800-Wal-Mart 
(1-800-925-6278)  
 
 
Corporate address
 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Attn: Customer Service
702 S.W. 8th Street
Bentonville, AR 72716 -8611




Valparaiso Address, Phone, and Store #
Wal-Mart Supercenter Store #1479
2400 Morthland Dr
Valparaiso, IN 46383
(219) 465-2799
 
 
Portage Address, Phone, and Store #
  1. 
Wal-Mart Supercenter Store #2544
6087 U.S. Highway 6
Portage, IN 46368
(219) 759-5900
 
 
Michigan City Address, Phone, and Store #
.
Wal-Mart Supercenter Store #1487
5780 Franklin St
Michigan City, IN 46360
(219) 879-3620
 
 

 

The Brown Family
Valpo Velvet Ice Cream Company
219-464-4141

 

 

 

 

 

Article about the Wal-Mart situation in The Times. October 10, 2009

 

 

Article about the Wa-Mart Situation in The Post-Tribune, October 19, 2009