Purpose & Commitment || Jude’s Ice Cream
Welcome to the latest podcast episode focusing on purpose and commitment with the best of British ice cream - Jude’s. This is a little extra end of summertime treat ahead of the new series starting later in the autumn.
My guest is Chow Mezger of Jude's Ice Cream and we explore the deceptive simplicity of a tub of vanilla ice cream.
Image Credit: Jude’s Ice Cream
Image Credit: Jude’s Ice Cream
I have long wanted Jude's to come on the podcast because I feel that the story of Jude's touches on so many interesting and important topics - acting on idea later in life, running a family business, what it means to be a British brand, taking the long view, being carbon neutral, becoming a BCorp and the interrelationship of purpose and commitment.
Chow is clear thinking, considered and highly articulate. I defy you to listen to this conversation and not feel moved to recommit to the purpose of your business, to explore how you can make a positive impact on people and the planet.
Image Credit: Jude’s Ice Cream
“You can either sit on the sidelines and wait, as so many people are, or dive in and do our absolute best. We realised that the biggest impact that we can have as a family is the way that we do business. Being BCorp is a great deal of work but it has given us the concrete actions that we needed to take. it has changed everything for the better.”
Image Credit: Jude’s Ice Cream
Our dad was starting an ice cream company.
What began as a barely whispered idea was soon actually happening. Though it came completely out of the blue, we could make sense of it. He’d often talked of making something with his own two hands, selling a real product to real people, and he’s always loved great ice cream.
He started small and set to work in our old barn at home in Hampshire. Our mum joined him and he decided to name the company after her. On 19th December 2002 he walked across the field to the village pub and sold the very first tub of Jude’s ice cream.
We (Alex and Chow) soon realised that the ice cream was seriously good and were convinced it should be served in the best restaurants. So we joined our parents at Jude's.
Alex loaded his car up with ice cream and hit the road, and Chow rolled his sleeves up and got to work creating new flavours...