Frozen Paddle is a small business committed to forming connections with the community.
The Frozen Paddle is an ice cream shop located in two cities in British Columbia, Kamloops and Prince George. They are a small business that not only offers ice cream but also a connection to the community.
The name “Frozen Paddle” is inspired by the history of the paddle steamers that went up and down the Fraser River. Frozen Paddle is a play on words they keep it fun like ice cream is supposed to be and also capture the sense of community that the brand is about.
In late 2014 Co-Founders, Wes Pederson and Kevin Pederson created the frozen paddle. We went to Penn State’s Ice Cream School. There he got a better understanding of the food science behind what makes good ice cream and officially became the CIO (Chief Ice Cream Officer). It all started with him after he started making ice cream in his basement in Prince George and it has been growing ever since.
Wes has now retired, and Kevin is co-owner of the Frozen Paddle managing their location in Prince George. Lisa and Matthew Bajkov are in charge of the site in Kamloops. Lisa is related to Kevin, and the business has stayed in the family. The shop in Kamloops first opened in May 2021 and it has stayed open through the seasons.
The ice creamery is involved in projects within the community, it is found at various events, fundraisers, corporate events, weddings, farmers’ markets, and more. Matthew Bajkov the manager of the shop in Kamloops says, “We are really all about creating a new experience and memories with our community.”
For example, they were prime sponsors for Kamloops King’s court, a basketball club. “We support TRU quite a bit we donated to the soccer club this year. We donate gift cards to Dirty Feet Running Club so they put a scavenger hunt with our gift cards so as people find them, they can bring them in” says Bajkov.
The featured ice cream flavours are all made with local ingredients with the intention of supporting other small businesses. “For example, our Haskap berries are from Lake Country, and then in Prince George, the berries come from Smithers.”
The ice creamery has limited and permanent flavours available for the public depending on the store. For the store in Kamloops the limited flavours are:
- Raspberry Vanilla Swirl (vanilla base with raspberry ice cream)
- Caramel Swirl (salted caramel with rich chocolate sauce)
- Rocky Road (double chocolate ice cream with mixed walnuts and marshmallows)
- Malty Salty Pretzel (malted milk-infused ice cream with chunks of house-made chocolate-covered pretzels)
For their permanent flavours or as they call them “Frozen 8” (which are always on Scoop) they have:
- Cookies ‘n’ Cream (creamy vanilla with chewy chocolate cookie pieces)
- Double Chocolate (the best cocoa powder is smooth unsweetened chocolate)
- Haskap (made with local berries from Living Roots Family Farm, it has a tangy and sweet flavour)
- Key lime pie (tastes like a pie with a sweet taste from the cream and the finish of lime)
- London fog (it has the distinct flavour of black tea with floral notes and a vanilla extract)
- Salted Caramel (caramel with vanilla and salt)
- Vanilla Bean (a unique blend of tropical vanillas with a delicate creamy flavour)
- H&B Roast Coffee (using dark roast coffee beans from “H&B Farm” and dark organic cocoa as a base)
The menu of popsicles features dairy-free, vegan, and gluten-free options. The popsicles come in flavours like Mango Coconut (made of organic mango puree and organic coconut cream), Coconut Espresso (Organic coconut cream and coffee combined), and Strawberry Watermelon (watermelon and organic strawberry puree).
Lisa Bajkov and the production lead Jen to oversee the creation of the limited flavours. All flavours are made in-house, and both locations have the machinery to produce them. They produce craft ice cream with high-quality ingredients.
The winter is the slowest period for the business however the Winter Pints Club helps them stay open during those months. It is a subscription service that we provide is got exclusive flavours in it and when you sign up you get four pints of ice cream a month. It starts in October and until February and they deliver to your door.
Social media has become a crucial element in the traffic of the store. Instagram and Facebook are important tools that are used to promote discounts and new offers. For example, their “on-chain monkey” decides the discounts depending on the weather at Prince George airport. At the moment, they are holding 15 percent off online and in-store purchases with a code.
Some exciting news was shared during the interview. “We just made our first delivery to Twin Rivers Market in Aberdeen and are now carrying our products in their coolers,” says Matthew. The craft ice cream is worth a try, and it has the availability to make connections with the community.
The shop is located at 359 Victoria Street in Kamloops, B.C. in the heart of Downtown Kamloops and it is open from Thursday to Sunday from 2 to 6. It is closed from Monday to Wednesday. Thompson Rivers University (TRU) alumni get 10 percent off on the store.
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