Behind the scoop: Perry’s Ice Cream sticks to tradition while churning out new flavors

AKRON, N.Y. (WIVB) -- July is National Ice Cream Month and National Ice Cream Day falls on Sunday. One Western New York favorite is celebrating the sweet season by giving fans a look inside its century-old process and what’s next.

Perry’s Ice Cream, based in Akron, has been serving real ice cream since 1918. While many companies have moved toward frozen dairy desserts to cut costs, Perry’s says staying true to its original recipe is part of its identity.

“It’s very important that we stick to our family tradition of making high-quality ice cream that we are known for and that people love and expect,” said Gayle Perry Denning, Perry’s chief marketing officer. “A lot of other companies have gone the route of frozen dairy dessert … but for us, it’s about using real milk, real cream and continuing to deliver great flavors that our fans love.”

Those flavors, 115 and counting, often start with the community.

“We get ideas from a lot of places,” said Sarah Martin, food technologist at Perry’s. “Our fans will tell us what they want to see. We’ll also do what’s called a trend trek we visit local bakeries, restaurants and see what’s popular, then come up with ways to turn that into an ice cream flavor.”

That local inspiration has led to creative combinations like Blueberry Cornbread and Lavender Dream, which are currently only available at ice cream stands.

Perry’s is also expanding its presence in grocery stores with new indulgent ice cream bars, coated in chocolate and packed with what the company calls “inclusions” mix-ins like candy pieces, cookie chunks or swirls of sauces. They’ve also added new retail pint flavors such as Lemon Meringue Pie and Cherry Pie.

“They taste just like they came out of grandma’s kitchen,” Perry Denning said.

With more than a century under its belt and new flavors launching every season, Perry’s is hoping fans celebrate Ice Cream Month the best way they know how, one scoop at a time.

To find out where you can find Perry's Ice Cream near you, you can visit their website here.