Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches, a Richmond-based, handcrafted, small batch ice cream company, is investing $5.8 million to move into a new production facility and corporate headquarters in the city of Richmond. The project will create 166 new jobs. 

Established by a husband-and-wife team Hannah Pollack and Xavier Meers, in 2016, Nightingale Ice Cream manufactures specialty ice cream sandwiches that are non-GMO and free of artificial ingredients and dye.

Nightingale is now found in over 5,000 chain and independent grocers nationwide, including Whole Foods Market, Kroger, The Fresh Market and Harris Teeter. Year-over-year, the company has doubled in size and has outgrown its current production facility. The new location will serve as a production facility and corporate headquarters. 

“What began in the kitchen of a Richmond restaurant has grown into something beyond what we ever imagined,” said Hannah Pollack, Nightingale Ice Cream CEO, president, and co-founder. “Receiving this support from the Commonwealth is an incredible honor and a powerful vote of confidence in our vision. We’re deeply grateful for the support which will help us accelerate our growth while staying true to our Richmond, Virginia roots. As we expand, our commitment to this community remains stronger than ever.”  

Handcrafted in small batches, Nightingale ice cream sandwiches include 14% butterfat ice cream, freshly baked cookies and homemade inclusions. The new facility is located on a 5-acre lot and was originally constructed in 1983. It is approximately 29,000 square feet, with 24,000 square feet designated for production use. 

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the city and the Greater Richmond Partnership to secure the project for Virginia and will support Nightingale’s job creation through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program, which provides consultative services and funding to companies creating new jobs in order to support employee recruitment and training activities. As a business incentive supporting economic development, VJIP reduces the human resource costs of new and expanding companies. VJIP is state funded, demonstrating Virginia’s commitment to enhancing job opportunities for citizens.