04/17/2020
Dear Three Twins Community,
It is with sadness that I announce that Three Twins Ice Cream is ceasing operations as of Friday April 17, 2020.
When I started Three Twins as a single ice cream shop in 2005, my goal was to make great organic ice cream that was affordable and accessible, while also giving back. Without any real understanding of business and without a single employee (I couldn't afford anyone but myself) I set out to make something special.
Three Twins quickly became a Bay Area favorite at our scoops shops, farmers' markets, and a handful of local grocery stores to which we sold hand-packed pints.
We had many successes in those early years, picking up new accounts, launching many firsts in organic, getting a fair amount of media attention, and growing rapidly. However, the grocery business proved to be brutal.
We were always working towards a scale where we could have sustained profitability, but in more recent years we saw the business contract and margins get squeezed further.
The result was that the business had been unsustainable and a capital infusion was necessary, but proved to be impossible. Any chances of a last minute solution were erased by the pandemic. As a result, we have no choice but to shut down the business. It is possible that somebody will revive the brand in the future, but unknown how likely that may be.
Thank you for all of your support over the years. It means more than I can possibly express in words. It's been quite the journey. Collectively we brought millions and millions of servings of joy to customers around the world, showed that you don't need to sacrifice to eat organic, and funded the purchase of 12,000 acres of land through Ice Cream For Acres.
One of the best things about being an entrepreneur is the incredible people that you get to work with. I was very fortunate on this front. We had something truly special here at Three Twins and now many of those talented individuals are looking for new jobs. In California it’s most of our corporate staff (including myself) and in Wisconsin it’s a good portion of our factory staff, including management, looking for new roles.
I have always lived by the philosophy that it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. While this is a heartbreaking end to a 15 year (and two day) dream, I feel entirely lucky to have had this opportunity. Thank you for sharing it with me.
My best,
Neal Gottlieb
Founding Twin and CEO
Three Twins Ice Cream
2005 - 2020
P.S. I can be reached at neal.h.gottlieb (at) g mail going forward and will be happy to get you in touch with the talented pool of former employees who are looking for their next great role.
