The Next Big Scoop
Innovation
At Central Smith, innovation has been at the heart of what we do since we were originally established in 1896. From expanding our facilities to reimagining our flavours, we are constantly exploring new ideas to elevate every scoop.
Click here to discover the history of Central Smith and how innovation has shaped our journey from the very beginning.
Dreaming Up New Flavours
At Central Smith, our flavour innovation never stops. It’s an ongoing journey of creativity and curiosity. Keep reading to learn how we bring new flavours to life!
1. Brainstorming
Every great flavour starts with a spark of imagination. Year-round, our team dreams up inventive ideas and keeps a running list of potential standouts.
In the summer, we open the floor to our community, inviting guests at our parlour and followers on social media to share their most imaginative ice cream ideas. Your creativity keeps us inspired and thinking outside the cone.
What is your wildest dream of ice cream?
2. Collaborating
Once we’ve gathered our list of flavour ideas, we begin the collaboration process. Our team comes together to evaluate each concept and, perhaps the hardest part, narrow them down to the standouts.
During the selection process we consider uniqueness, market trends, line-up fit, and marketing potential.
Choosing which ideas get to move on to the next stage of innovation is a difficult task that blends creativity and strategic thinking. It is truly a team effort!
3. Sampling
With our refined list of flavour ideas in hand, it's time to start bringing our vision into reality. Now comes the magic (and the tasting!).
We source high-quality flavours, inclusions and ripples, then craft small sample batches using various combinations.
Our team gathers for sampling sessions to test each batch on its texture, taste and visual appeal. This isn’t a one-and-done process, it’s an ongoing journey of trial, error, and fine-tuning that lasts through most of the fall and winter months. We experiment with ingredient pairings, ratios, and techniques until we get it just right.
4. Bringing New Flavours to Life
After much deliberation, now is when it comes down to the final call: selecting the standout flavours that will become our newest releases of the year and find their homes in our product line-up.
With our winners chosen, we move into full-scale production. At the same time, we prepare marketing materials, build anticipation, and, of course, try to contain our excitement as we gear up for the big reveal.
The countdown begins!
5. The Grand Reveal
In the ice cream world, March is a pivotal month. As preparations ramp up for the warmer, busier months ahead, Central Smith kicks off the season with something special: the launch of our brand-new flavours.
But the excitement doesn’t stop after the launch. Now that our new flavours are officially out in the world (all grown up – sniff), it’s your turn to join the conversation. We are always eager to hear your thoughts and know which flavour becomes your new go-to scoop!
Get the Scoop and Stay in the Loop
Got a flavour idea that’s been living in your imagination? We’d love to know! Drop your dream combo in the comments on our social media pages! Who knows, your idea might just be the next big scoop! #TheNextBigScoop 🍦✨
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Photography by Heather Doughty