The Pulse: July 15, 2024

Artisan creamery Kind Ice Cream is on a mission to expand its retail footprint, increase its production capacity, and embark on business-to-business sales using the $289,609 it received from the Edmonton Edge Fund.

The growth boils down to using two new mobile locations in converted shipping containers, expanding from 2,000 to 6,000 square feet of production space, and selling its ice cream base to other businesses. It's an ambitious plan, but not too ambitious.

"We're not interested in booming this business," co-founder Paula Shyba told Taproot. "We really love just being in the neighbourhoods we're in. We have pretty humble growth goals in that sense. We don't want to make billions or even millions. We just want to make thousands."

Shyba, along with co-founders Candyce Morris and Nicole Bhar, aims to do that by increasing production and distribution, though they have no plans to retail at major grocery chains, Morris told Taproot. Instead, they plan to secure a production kitchen that they estimate will cost $6,000 to $7,000 per month. They will also acquire a batch mix plant, a device for making ice cream base up to 600 litres at a time.

"The base equipment is definitely expensive, but … it's definitely a justified expense (for something) that we've been wanting for a while," Shyba said. "We're really fortunate because we pay fairly little right now for a kitchen that somehow manages to make ice cream for three shops."

The equipment should allow them to produce enough ice cream to sell in new custom, transportable units from HONOMOBO's line of food service structures called HONOMOBAR. The units cost about $80,000 each including refrigeration, water supply, and fixturing costs. The Kind team wants to launch them in 2025 and is considering the southwest and west end of the city for the inaugural locations.

The two mobile outposts "will be in a shipping container that we fully get to design and create with them," Shyba said. "Our hope is that we'll find great locations, and we will drop it off in May, and it will stay in that same location until, most likely, September."

New locations could reduce wait times for customers and boost revenue for the creamers at the same time. Kind currently operates in Ritchie, Highlands, and Wîhkwêntôwin, and the owners project $2.7 million in revenue for this year.

Another way the company may grow is through selling its ice cream base to other businesses, which is basically plain ice cream before it's flavoured with things like sponge toffee or peanut butter and Oreos. The owners are thinking of calling it Base Camp — pun presumably intended.

• Plans are underway to transform the historic Army & Navy building on Whyte Avenue into smaller retail units to attract local businesses. Leder Investments bought the building for about $2 million, after it closed in 2020 due to the pandemic. The new owners say they will maintain some of the building's original character while repurposing its 30,000 square feet of space, including potential entertainment uses for the basement. The project is part of ongoing efforts to revitalize the area, including new developments and City of Edmonton plans for wider sidewalks and more green spaces.
• Edmonton's mayor and five city councillors spent nearly $16,000 to attend the Calgary Stampede in 2023, Postmedia reported. The expenses varied widely among the councillors who attended. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi and some councillors defended the trips as essential for building relationships with the province and advocating for Edmonton.
• Edmonton has multiple rooftop bee colonies that are supporting community gardens, including one at Kingsway Mall that aims to grow 300 pounds of vegetables for Edmonton's Food Bank. The Alberta Motor Association (AMA) has also installed rooftop hives at its offices in Edmonton and Calgary. The AMA has an "adopt a bee" program, with proceeds supporting the AMA Community Foundation.
• Edmonton continues to have the most opioid-related deaths in Alberta, with 148 deaths recorded in the first three months of 2024. While the province reported a 22% decrease in opioid-related deaths compared to the same period last year, advocates in Edmonton say that the official numbers may underestimate the crisis. The unpredictable drug supply and lack of adequate mental health and recovery resources continue to exacerbate the situation, said Angie Staines with the 4B Harm Reduction Society.
• Repairs to the Whitemud Drive overpass at Anthony Henday Drive, damaged in June 2023 by a semi hauling an excavator, have been delayed until February 2025. Traffic at the overpass has been disrupted since the collision, with lane closures leading to major backups during rush hour. The province, which is responsible for the repairs, did not give a reason for the delay.
• Park rangers in Edmonton are urging caution when enjoying the North Saskatchewan River because of unpredictable currents. River users are urged to wear life jackets, while health experts warn of potential bacterial and parasitic infections from the water. Swimmers should rinse off immediately after leaving the river to minimize health risks.
• Public transit users struggled with the heat wave as most Edmonton Transit Services buses lack full air conditioning. Only about 40% of conventional buses and two-thirds of the city's LRT fleet have full air conditioning, though the city plans to increase this number as older vehicles are replaced. All DATS vehicles have air conditioning.
• Edmontonians are noticing a sticky residue on their cars and sidewalks due to aphids, small insects that excrete a substance called honeydew after feeding on tree sap. The city's older trees, especially elms, are more prone to large aphid populations, which have surged due to recent heat. The sticky substance is harmless to humans and can be washed off with soap and water.
• Edmonton has had a spike in motorcyclist deaths, with five happening in June alone, a figure not observed in nearly a decade, according to the Edmonton Police Service. Excessive speed and rider error are major factors, police said, urging motorcyclists to prioritize their safety.
• Several auto insurance companies have exited the Alberta market in recent weeks, citing high claim costs and limited profit opportunities. The Insurance Bureau of Canada found Alberta has the second-highest premiums and claim sizes in the country. The Alberta government is set to announce insurance reforms this fall to address concerns, with potential changes including a no-fault system, a hybrid model, and the less likely option of a public insurer. The government is currently reviewing public feedback and consulting with insurers.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Diamonds Workshop: How to Find Your Powerful Why for Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs starting at 10am at the ATB Entrepreneur Centre
• The Magpie Collection: Festival Classes and Workshops offer a Mexican Traditional Dance Class starting at 10am and a Contemporary workshop starting at 12pm at Mile Zero Dance Class
• Library Lunchtime Concerts starting at 12:15pm at the Edmonton Public Library (Stanley A. Milner)
• Financial Literacy: Introduction to Registered Education Savings Plans starting at 6:30pm online

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• July 31: BiodiverCity at the Alfred H. Savage Centre
• Aug. 3-5: Edmonton Heritage Festival at Borden Park
• Aug. 15: PRIDE vs. PREJUDICE: The Delwin Vriend Story at the Roxy Theatre

Visit the beta version of the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.