LA VERGNE, Tenn. (WKRN) — As Rutherford County continues to grow, it’s attracting companies you may be surprised by.
ICEE CEO Dan Fachner started with the company delivering products and servicing machines in California. He worked his way up to president in 1997, then in 2019 moved the company to La Vergne.
“Seventy-five percent of our business was within a 1,000-mile radius of the Nashville area. So, then we came to Nashville, and I checked out the different counties and just fell in love with Rutherford,” Fachner explained.
Fachner said the governor and local mayor helped solidify the company’s decision, but he also had to convince roughly 200 people in the company to relocate.
“Our people that we’ve brought from California have loved it and have kind of settled in this Rutherford County, and then we have a lot of new people that have joined us as well,” he said.
In La Vergne, a room full of ICEE machines is where company leaders test new flavors and products. Their most recent innovation is a Peeps-flavored ICEE, which will make its debut this spring.
In the building, you’ll also find their large customer service department, as well as a massive back warehouse.
The company continues to grow its brand.
“One of them that we bought about two-and-a-half years ago is Dippin’ Dots. And everybody knows Dippin’ Dots, much like ICEE, they have a story around it: ‘I remember when I first got it; I remember being at the amusement park or at the zoo,’” Fachner said.
The company also makes popular snack foods, such as churros, funnel cakes, and giant pretzels.
“We work with some of the best products that bring smiles to people’s faces and some of the best customers, like theaters and amusement parks and convenience stores; it’s a fun business,” Fachner said.
As the company grows, you’ll find them in Moe’s locations, and the company is also testing products in KFC. The company is also growing its footprint, with some of its fastest growing markets being Mexico and Dubai.
