Kande’s Delights Premium Ice Creams and Sorbets Capture the Flavours of Jamaica

Local company Kande’s Delights is making its mark in the gastronomy industry, offering a range of rich and flavourful ice creams and sorbets to satisfy the taste buds.

The nine-year old company, established by Kevin Dean in 2015, manufactures a variety of dairy and non-dairy treats to meet the needs of every customer.

Kande’s Delights ice creams and sorbets are made from scratch using fresh, local seasonal fruits and other ingredients, with no artificial flavouring or colouring.

Mr. Dean tells JIS News that the blends are crafted with the finest ingredients that capture the essence of Jamaica.

A rich coconut base is used or the non-dairy ice creams, which adds a decadent tropical flavour.

“We are targeting primarily the premium ice cream lovers and we are doing that through the natural fruits of Jamaica. We try to go as natural as possible,” he notes.

The company’s flagship products are the Choco Coffee Craze, Pistachio Raspberry Ripple, Coconut Jelly Bits, Cookies and Cream, and Rum Cream Ice Cream.

The company also produces soursop, sorrel, mango, tamarind and orange sorbets.

“We tend to focus primarily on in-season fruits. We typically use produce that are indigenous to Jamaica. It’s not just fruits; it’s also local produce that we use,” Mr. Dean says.

The company seeks to cater to all ice cream and sorbet lovers, customising its products for those with discerning tastes and providing vegan options for the health conscious, as well as those with strict dietary requirements.

“The beauty of our ice cream is that we are flexible. We can tailor products to your needs. If you don’t want a lot of sugar in your ice cream, we can customise it that way. We have a lower sugar count than most of our competitors and we use a specific type of sugar that diabetics can use. If you want us to use a particular kind of sugar we can do so and cater it to your needs,” Mr. Dean notes.

The company has also incorporated technology in its operations, utilising flash freezing, which results in a creamier product.

“We don’t use ice at all. We induce the base to below zero temperatures and flash freeze the ice cream resulting in a very creamy smooth texture… . The percentage of the butterfat is very high so it’s a creamier product,” Mr. Dean explains.

The technology is utilised at public and private events for which the company offers catering services, enabling patrons to see the frozen treats prepared right before their eyes.

“The flash freeze process makes the ice cream in a relatively short time, resulting in a high creamy content ice cream. The flash freezing process brings a certain level of entertainment and customer service,” Mr. Dean notes.

Persons looking to beat the scorching summer heat can access Kande’s Delights treats at any of the major supermarkets and food establishments, where they are available.

These include Family Pride, Super Value Fresh Foods, Hi Lo, General Foods, First Choice Foods, Family Pride, Peppa Thyme Restaurant and Bar, and Kravingz restaurant.

Currently, Kande’s Delights operates in the local space but is looking to get into regional and international markets. The company is awaiting approval from the United States Food and Drug Association to export to that country.

Noting the competition in the industry, Mr. Dean says Kande’s Delights stands out with its use of fresh local products.

“Through our gastronomy, we want to promote our local fruits that are indigenous to Jamaica that will grab the international attention. We pride ourselves on the fact that we use our natural fruits with no use of artificial flavouring or colouring, and that is what sets us apart, and you get the natural taste of the products,” he notes.

The company also plans to procure a mobile unit to do its own distribution.

“It will give us the flexibility to go to our customers; we don’t have to wait for customers to come to us,” Mr. Dean says.

The business owner has no regrets about making the career shift from Information Technology to establishing Kande’s Delights.

He tells JIS News that while entrepreneurship has been challenging, he is relishing the rewards of the journey.

“Being an entrepreneur, I try to find gaps in the industry that we can take advantage of. One such advantage was the necessity for our local fruits and produce to be used creatively in desserts. I saw the opportunity in the market for naturally made ice cream and the ability to use our fruits more to add value to our gastronomy,” he notes.

The ice cream manufacturer says he received grants and technical support from the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) and the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) among others, which have assisted in expanding his business.

“It is very challenging. I would encourage entrepreneurs like myself to take advantage of government agencies and private entities that are offering not only financial aid but mentorship and training programmes,” he advises.