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Chipwich
Chipwich
Chipwich
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Chipwich
image:250pixels
Product typeIce cream cookie sandwich
OwnerCrave Better Foods (a United States limited liability corporation), Cos Cob, Connecticut
CountryU.S.
Introduced1981
MarketsUnited States
Previous ownersRichard LaMotta,[1] Sam Metzger, Chipwich, Dreyer's division of Nestlé

The Chipwich is a brand of ice cream sandwich made of ice cream between two chocolate chip cookies and then rolled in chocolate chips.[2] The Chipwich name and logo is trademarked by Crave Better Foods, LLC based in Cos Cob, Connecticut.[3][4]

Studio photo of Chipwich ice cream sandwich

The original, created by Richard LaMotta in New York City in 1978, was made up of vanilla ice cream sandwiched by two chocolate chip cookies, with the sides rolled in chocolate chips, which stick to the ice cream.[5]

History

[edit]

While ice cream sandwiches have been sold in New York City since the 1890s,[6] New York lawyer Richard LaMotta created the Chipwich in 1978. He introduced it to the city in 1981 with a guerrilla marketing campaign, training sixty street cart vendors (mostly students) to sell the new product on the streets of New York, for a dollar each; this rapidly established Chipwich as a successful brand. Some twenty-five thousand Chipwiches were sold the first day, and within two weeks the company was selling 40,000 a day.[5][7]

The small, independent company struggled to find capital to expand. In 1984, Chipwich sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.[8] By 1987, co-founders LaMotta and Samuel Metzger had reorganized the company and obtained a $1 million investment from Swedish holding company Hexagon AB, which guaranteed loans and licensed its products.[9] In 1992, the company was back in Chapter 11 bankruptcy after incurring a $1.4 million loss on sales of $4.8 million; an accounting scandal involving inventory overstatements at Peltz Food, a subsidiary headed by Robert Peltz, were at the root of much of the problem.[8]

Package for the Birthday Cake flavor Chipwich, introduced in 2020

CoolBrands International bought Chipwich in 2002, becoming North America's third-largest ice cream vendor. Due to a series of financial difficulties, which began with the loss of its Weight Watchers/Smart Ones frozen food licence in 2004,[10] CoolBrands sold Chipwich, Eskimo Pie and Real Fruit to the Dreyer's division of Nestlé in 2007.[11] This was part of a larger divestiture of core assets which left the company as little more than a publicly listed empty shell. By 2009, Nestlé had stopped production of the original Chipwich, reportedly because it competed with its own Toll House chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwich.[1]

The trademark was acquired in 2017 by Crave Better Foods, LLC of Cos Cob, Connecticut.[12] The product was relaunched in 2018 in the U.S.[13][14] In 2020, the brand introduced a new flavor, Birthday Cake, to its product line.[15]

Critical response

[edit]

In May 2018, the New York Times described the Chipwich as the number-one treat in its article, "The 7 Greatest Packaged Frozen Treats, Ranked." The article describes the Chipwich as having "an ideal softness all the way through," with "mellow, comforting flavors." The review notes that the cookies and ice cream filling have matching consistencies, making it easy to eat.[16]

See also

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References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Chipwich

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Chipwich is a brand of ice cream sandwich consisting of rich and creamy premium vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two fresh-baked chocolate chunk cookies and rolled in real chocolate chips. Invented by entrepreneur Richard LaMotta in Englewood, New Jersey, in 1978 while experimenting at his ice cream parlor, the treat was first introduced to the market in 1981 and rapidly gained popularity through innovative street vending in New York City. LaMotta's creation, which used high-quality ingredients to create a non-soggy texture, sold 25,000 units on its debut day in Manhattan at $1 each and peaked at 200,000 daily by mid-1982, leading to over 1 billion units sold by the early 2000s. Following ownership changes—including acquisition by Coolbrands International in 2002 and later by —the brand was discontinued in 2011 but relaunched in 2018 by Crave Better Foods with an updated recipe free of artificial flavors, colors, and rBST-treated milk. As of 2025, the Chipwich lineup includes the original Chip alongside flavors such as Birthday Cake, Cookies & Cream, , Double Chocolate Chip, Girl Scout Thin Mints®, Brown , and , available in single-serve packs and pints nationwide. Certified kosher, the product emphasizes premium ingredients and has inspired numerous cookie sandwich imitators since its inception.

Product Description

Composition and Ingredients

The Chipwich is structured as an ice cream sandwich consisting of two soft chocolate chip cookies that encase a core of premium vanilla ice cream, with the exterior rolled in real chocolate chips to enhance texture and flavor. The original Vanilla Chocolate Chip variety features premium vanilla ice cream made from milk, cream, sugar, condensed skim milk, corn sweetener, fructose, whey, and stabilizers including guar gum, soy lecithin, egg yolk, locust bean gum, carrageenan (standardized with sugar); chocolate chunk cookies composed of enriched wheat flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), brown sugar, palm oil, chocolate chunks (sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla extract, salt), sugar, eggs, invert sugar, semisweet chocolate chips (sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, dextrose, sunflower lecithin), and natural vanilla flavor; and additional exterior chocolate chips made with sugar, chocolate liquor (unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter), soy lecithin. Quality standards for the product include sourcing and from cows not treated with rBST, as Kosher-Dairy by KOF-K, and a free of artificial flavors or colors. A single 89g serving of the original sandwich provides 320 calories, 15g total fat (including 9g ), 43g total carbohydrates (with 2g and 33g sugars), 4g protein, 135mg sodium, and 10% of the daily value for calcium. Following its relaunch, the Chipwich shifted to emphasize premium real ingredients in its composition.

Varieties and Formats

The Chipwich brand has expanded beyond its foundational Vanilla Chocolate Chip variety to offer a diverse range of sandwich flavors, each maintaining the core structure of premium sandwiched between soft-baked chip cookies and rolled in real chips. As of 2025, current permanent varieties include , which features mixed with colorful cake bits and vanilla frosting swirls for a celebratory twist; Cookies & Cream, combining with crunchy Oreo-style cookie pieces; , filled with refreshing mint and semisweet chips; Double Chip, delivering indulgent paired with extra chips and chunk cookies; Brown Butter Pecan, made with sweet cream , brown butter , and pecan pieces; and , featuring with almond pieces and chips. Limited-edition collaborations add seasonal excitement to the lineup, such as the Girl Scout Thin Mints variety, which incorporates mint with pieces of the iconic thin mint cookies, evoking the classic Girl Scout cookie experience in frozen form. These innovations allow consumers to enjoy familiar dessert profiles while preserving the portable, handheld appeal of the original sandwich format. In addition to individual sandwiches, Chipwich products are available in alternative formats for greater versatility. Pints of in and flavors enable scooping and serving in custom portions, ideal for home use or larger gatherings. Sandwiches are typically packaged in multi-packs, such as 3-count or 4-count boxes totaling around 12.75 to 17 fluid ounces, while pints are offered in standard 16-ounce containers. All products are positioned as frozen novelties, requiring storage at 0°F or below to maintain quality. Regarding allergens, every Chipwich variety contains , , soy, and eggs as primary ingredients due to the , , and components. Production occurs on shared equipment that also handles and tree nuts, so the brand does not make nut-free claims, and consumers with allergies are advised to check product labels for the most current information.

History

Invention and Development

, a graduate of New York Law School's class of 1975 and an entrepreneur with a background in economics from , conceived the idea for the Chipwich in 1976 while residing in . As co-owner of the local Sweet Tooth, LaMotta drew inspiration from his childhood fondness for milk and cookies, aiming to develop a premium frozen treat that elevated the traditional beyond basic formulations. Throughout the late , LaMotta refined the through experimentation at the Sweet Tooth parlor and in his home test kitchen, focusing on combining soft cookies with high-quality to create a more indulgent product. This development process emphasized texture and flavor balance, positioning the Chipwich as a sophisticated alternative to existing sandwiches, which dated back to 1894 versions using wafers. A pivotal innovation emerged during prototyping: encasing the ice cream between two cookies and rolling the exposed edges in additional chips, which served to prevent sticking during handling while amplifying the flavor profile. In 1978, LaMotta produced the first handmade prototypes and introduced them informally through pushcarts on the streets of , employing a approach by hiring students to distribute free samples and build early buzz among consumers.

Commercial Launch and Early Success

The Chipwich brand was formally launched nationwide in 1981, building on initial street vending in that began on of that year with 60 vendors selling the product from carts in . The innovative quickly captured public attention, earning recognition as one of Adweek's "Hottest New Products of the Year" due to its unique combination of premium , chocolate chip cookies, and rolled s. This early acclaim stemmed from a guerrilla-style approach that emphasized high-quality ingredients and a premium $1 , setting it apart from typical frozen novelties. Early sales were explosive, with approximately 25,000 units sold on the launch day alone, all within hours, and scaling to 40,000 per day within two weeks before production constraints limited output to 20,000 daily to maintain quality. By the end of , the company reported around $4.4 million in revenue, implying millions of units sold in the first year and establishing Chipwich as an instant commercial hit. Distribution expanded rapidly beyond street carts, entering New York-area supermarkets through the Haagen-Dazs network by late , accompanied by targeted TV campaigns aimed at housewives during fringe hours to boost winter interest. By 1982, the product reached ice cream carts in and became available in grocery stores and vending machines across the U.S. East Coast, further solidifying its foothold. By mid-1982, production had scaled to a peak of 200,000 units daily across facilities in , N.Y., and Lodi, N.J. The initial product lineup centered on the original Vanilla Chocolate Chip variety, which drove the bulk of demand, though limited flavors were introduced shortly thereafter to sustain momentum. Throughout the , Chipwich peaked as a nostalgic summer treat, evoking childhood memories and becoming a staple of warm-weather with sustained popularity that reflected its enduring appeal.

Ownership Changes and Revivals

Following its early commercial success under founder , who retained ownership from the product's 1981 launch until 2002, the Chipwich brand was sold to CoolBrands International Inc., then the second-largest distributor . This acquisition facilitated broader national distribution through CoolBrands' extensive network of franchises and partnerships. CoolBrands encountered financial difficulties beginning in 2004, stemming from the loss of key licensing agreements, which prompted the sale of several brands including Chipwich in 2007 to through its Grand Ice Cream subsidiary. Under , production of the original Chipwich continued briefly but was discontinued by 2009, as the product directly competed with 's Toll House chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwich; the brand was fully removed from markets in 2011 amid broader industry shifts toward healthier frozen treats. In 2017, Crave Better Foods, LLC, a Connecticut-based company, acquired the Chipwich and rights, leading to its revival with a relaunch in February 2018 featuring premium , no artificial additives, and initial expanded flavor options like . In November 2020, Crave Better Foods merged with the Solero Organic Fruit Bar business from Iris Brands, LLC, expanding its portfolio while maintaining Chipwich as a core offering under the same ownership. As of 2025, Chipwich is produced and widely distributed nationwide, available through major retailers, grocery stores, an online store locator, and direct online purchases such as .

Marketing and Cultural Impact

Initial Marketing Strategies

The initial marketing of the Chipwich emphasized guerrilla tactics to generate buzz through direct consumer interaction, beginning with small-scale street vending in in 1981. , the product's creator, hired students to operate pushcarts modeled after stands, positioning the treat as a novel, premium indulgence sold at $1 each in high-traffic urban areas. This approach built word-of-mouth organically by allowing potential customers to experience the product's unique cookie-ice cream combination firsthand, without relying on traditional at the outset. To amplify early visibility, LaMotta distributed free samples from these carts during the initial rollout, encouraging immediate trial and repeat purchases among passersby. By May 1982, the strategy scaled up dramatically with the deployment of 60 branded pushcarts staffed by uniformed vendors in pith helmets and khakis across streets, resulting in the rapid sell-out of 25,000 units on launch day alone. These experiential promotions targeted urban families and consumers seeking convenient, fun desserts, leveraging the portability and novelty of the Chipwich to stand out in a crowded frozen treats market. Complementing the street-level efforts, LaMotta formed partnerships with local vendors and sales firms like Premium Products Sales to expand distribution while maintaining a focus on quality positioning. Print advertising played a supporting role, with the Chipwich highlighted in Adweek as one of the hottest new products of 1981, underscoring its innovative appeal without heavy investment in television spots initially. This blend of hands-on vending and selective media coverage fostered a sense of exclusivity and excitement, driving early sales growth to 40,000 units daily within weeks of the full launch.

Reception and Popularity

Upon its commercial launch, the Chipwich received critical acclaim for its innovative design, earning recognition as one of Adweek's "Hottest New Products of the Year" in 1981. Food media outlets have praised the product for elevating the traditional through its use of soft cookies and a coating of chips, which provide a premium texture and flavor contrast compared to standard wafer-based alternatives. In taste tests, such as those conducted by , the original vanilla Chipwich was highlighted for evoking strong childhood nostalgia while standing out for its quality among competitors like Nestlé Toll House and Klondike. The Chipwich quickly became an iconic summer treat in the , synonymous with nostalgia and sparking the broader cookie sandwich trend. Its cultural significance extended into pop culture, with the brand playfully tying its timeline to 1990s events like the launch, positioning the treat as a , accessible amid major milestones. Following a period of limited availability, the product's revival under Crave Brands generated significant buzz, fueled by sharing memories of its original heyday. This nostalgia peaked around events like National Ice Cream Sandwich Day in 2025, where online discussions and promotions reinforced its status as a beloved classic. In the 2020s, the Chipwich has seen positive reception for its relaunched flavors, including Cookies & Cream, , Brown , and , with reviewers noting the enhanced creaminess and fresh-baked quality in outlets like . In June 2024, Chipwich products were part of a major recall by manufacturer Totally Cool, Inc., affecting multiple brands and resulting in a filed in 2025 by Crave Better Foods against their for failing to secure coverage, leading to $4.5 million in losses. Availability has expanded to major retailers such as and grocery chains, while the introduction of formats in 2022 has appealed to home consumers seeking larger portions for sharing or customization. Overall, the brand maintains its reputation for premium ingredients, often ranking highly in blind taste tests against rivals for its balanced crunch and indulgence.

References

  1. https://chipwich.com/faq/
  2. https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2018/06/chipwich_returns_ice_cream_sandwich_new_jersey.html
  3. https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/20/business/other-business-a-chipwich-by-any-other-name.html
  4. https://chipwich.com/about-chipwich/
  5. https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/16/business/16lamotta.html
  6. https://chipwich.com/
  7. https://chipwich.com/vanilla-chocolate-chip/
  8. https://shop.thefreshmarket.com/store/the-fresh-market/products/21097434-chipwich-ice-cream-sandwich-vanilla-chocolate-chip-4-25-fl-oz
  9. https://www.nutritionix.com/i/chipwich/vanilla-chocolate-chip-ice-cream-sandwich/5fbe653636768fa5629a491b
  10. https://chipwich.com/double-chocolate-chip/
  11. https://www.instagram.com/p/DQUucLLEVDh/
  12. https://chipwich.com/girl-scout-thin-mints/
  13. https://www.acmemarkets.com/shop/product-details.960541868.html
  14. https://www.kingsfoodmarkets.com/shop/product-details.960541868.html
  15. https://delivery.publix.com/store/publix/products/21097562-chipwich-ice-cream-sandwich-birthday-cake-3-ea
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  17. https://www.brooklyn.edu/magazine/a-look-back/
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  19. https://www.newyorkcity-eats.com/ice-cream
  20. https://southfloridareporter.com/the-first-known-ice-cream-sandwich-was-in-1894-and-used-sponge-cake-with-ice-cream-between/
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  22. https://www.nytimes.com/1981/05/21/business/advertising-chipwich-destined-for-grocers.html
  23. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1983/10/04/sec-orders-chipwich-to-withdraw-stock-bid/6e432801-f730-42c5-ba93-a97bfb6a8bf1/
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  34. https://www.foodandwine.com/desserts/taste-test-best-ice-cream-sandwiches
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  36. https://www.purewow.com/food/best-ice-cream-truck-treats
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