Selling Real Fruit Ice Cream
Typical Ice Cream Profit Scenarios
| Sell price | Cost of ingredients and wages per serve | Profit per serve | Profit per week | Approx payback period (weeks) |
| 50 ice creams per day | ||||
| $6.00 | $2.56 | $2.54 | $888 | 27 |
| $7.00 | $2.56 | $3.39 | $1186 | 20 |
| $8.00 | $2.56 | $4.24 | $1483 | 16 |
| $9.00 | $2.56 | $5.09 | $1781 | 14 |
| 100 ice creams per day | ||||
| $6.00 | $2.41 | $2.69 | $1882 | 13 |
| $7.00 | $2.41 | $3.54 | $2477 | 10 |
| $8.00 | $2.41 | $4.39 | $3072 | 8 |
| $9.00 | $2.41 | $5.24 | $3667 | 7 |
| 150 ice creams per day | ||||
| $6.00 | $2.36 | $2.74 | $2875 | 8 |
| $7.00 | $2.36 | $3.59 | $3768 | 6 |
| $8.00 | $2.36 | $4.44 | $4660 | 5 |
| $9.00 | $2.36 | $5.29 | $5553 | 4 |
| 250 ice creams per day | ||||
| $6.00 | $2.32 | $2.78 | $4862 | 5 |
| $7.00 | $2.32 | $3.63 | $6350 | 4 |
| $8.00 | $2.32 | $4.48 | $7837 | 3 |
| $9.00 | $2.32 | $5.33 | $9325 | 3 |
| 350 ice creams per day | ||||
| $6.00 | $2.30 | $2.80 | $6849 | 4 |
| $7.00 | $2.30 | $3.65 | $8932 | 3 |
| $8.00 | $2.30 | $4.50 | $11014 | 2 |
| $9.00 | $2.30 | $5.35 | $13097 | 2 |
Product costs to make one Real Fruit Ice Cream:
The profit scenarios table assumes the following costs:
Ice Cream - $0.76
Frozen Fruit - $0.37
Cone - $0.11
Serviette - $0.03
Total cost - $1.27 per ice cream
Assumptions:
Staff cost per hour - $30
GST (Goods & Services Tax) - 15%
Company Tax Rate - 28%
All costs are in NZ dollars (NZD), based on typical 2025 values.
Meet some of the businesses that own Little Jem Blenders:
Berry Lands - Berry Farm and Farm Store (NZ)
Berry Lands is one of the largest pick your own (PYO) berry gardens in the Nelson region and have 4 Little Jem Elite Real Fruit Ice Cream Blenders.
“Little Jems are extremely well designed and easy to use machines; perfect for pumping out lots of Real Fruit Ice Creams over summer. We wouldn’t trust any other machines in our stores.”
Thomas Bros - Retail Outlet / Cherry Orchard (NZ)
Thomas Brothers Orchard is a family owned farm located just north of the Motueka township. The retail and ice cream shop has been in operation since 2012 and they have 3 Little Jem Elite Real Fruit Ice Cream Blenders.
“We upgraded to our first Little Jem in 2013 and since then have added two more. They are simple to use, easy to clean and, most importantly, extremely reliable. Our little ice cream shop hums with activity over the summer months and our Little Jem blenders are key to keeping everything running smoothly. I couldn’t recommend them highly enough.”
Happy Cones - Mobile ice cream vendor (USA)
Hap Cameron hails from Nelson NZ and now lives in Colorado, USA. Happy Cones started as a mobile ice cream truck and has now also established a shop for producing and selling his homemade Real Fruit Ice Cream - they now own a total of 3 Little Jem Elite Blenders.
“I was the first person to bring a Little Jem blender into the USA in 2015. I remember looking at cheaper blenders on the market, but since my first day of operation I’ve never regretted my purchase as it’s saved me thousands in the long run. While all my other equipment breaks down, including my truck, the Little Jem keeps twirling. You won’t be disappointed.”
Ice Cream Store / Mobile Vendor (Canada)
Katie and Matty were the first business to import a Little Jem Blender into Canada. The couple started off selling Real Fruit Ice Cream from a mobile “boler” trailer and the demand was such that they have added an ice cream store to their business. The couple owns 3 Little Jem Elite Blenders.
Katie and Matty’s success has inspired other businesses in Canada to start selling Real Fruit Ice Cream.
“When we started our business we wanted to invest in quality equipment that wouldn’t let us down. We’ve been super happy we decided to go with the Little Jem machines, along with the service and support we receive from Dennis & Chris. The machines are forward-facing in our business, and customers often comment on the great look and design. They are also a breeze to clean, and easy to train our staff on.”
Alberta’s Café - Seaside Café (NZ)
Alberta’s Café is right in the heart of Mapua Whart serving it’s own roasted coffee and delicious food as well as Real Fruit Ice Creams.
“Ice cream sales exceeds all other areas of our café. The staff love our Little Jem - it’s simple, fast and easy to use.”
Turner’s Beach Berry Patch - Berry Farm (Australia)
Turner’s Beach Berry Patch is a popular berry farm café and events centre in Tasmania, Australia. They own 3 Little Jem Elite Blenders.
“We have bought three Little Jem machines and we cannot be happier with them. We have made 100,000 ice creams with our first Little Jem without a single problem or repair. We have found the build quality to be vastly superior to any other blender on the market, the drive system seems indestructible”
Ye Olde Berry Farm - Berry Farm (NZ)
A pick your own (PYO) berry farm in the Waikato, New Zealand. They own 2 Little Jem Elite Blenders.
“Dennis introduced us to the Little Jem ice cream machines. It has gone fantastically well for us, a great addition to our business. They are purpose designed and built, robust, reliable, fast, easy to use and turn out a great product. We’ll pass a million cones this year and still going strong!”