Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches are going national.
The Richmond-based ice cream sandwiches have been picked up by Kroger and will now be found in 2,400 Kroger stores nation-wide.
“We’re really excited. It’s our first national distribution,” co-founder Hannah Pollock said. “It’s a long time coming. We’ve been working on it for about a year.”
Xavier Meers and Hannah Pollack pose for a portrait at the Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches facility in Manchester, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
It’s a big step up from Nightingale’s early days as a side hustle project for Pollock, who created the handcrafted dessert while she was the chef at Greenleaf’s Pool Room.
Her husband, Xavier Meers, is a Brussels-born chef who led the kitchens at Belle Vie European Bistro and later Brux’l Café. The two launched Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches – as an upscale, handcrafted version of the childhood classic — in 2016 and never looked back.
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Nightingale can now be found in over 4,500 store locations nationwide, including Kroger, The Fresh Market, Harris Teeter, Whole Foods and many more specialty shops. Locally, Nightingale can still be found at local markets such as Stella’s Grocery and Shield’s Market, as well as at many restaurants on the dessert menu.
Xavier Meers and Hannah Pollock celebrate Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches being picked up by Kroger.
Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches
Nightingale is expanding to keep up with the increased demand.
Right now, the Nightingale Ice Cream facility is located in Manchester, next to Hatch Kitchen. In late December, Nightingale purchased a 28,000-square-foot industrial building at 2807 Transport St. on Dec. 30 for $2.7 million, according to city records.
“I can’t say much about that right now,” Pollock said. But the new building is a key part of the Pollock and Meers’ plan for growth.
Getting picked up by Kroger
Getting onto Kroger’s shelves was the result of years of hard work.
“The buyer reached out to us and said, ‘I’d like to review your line.’ That’s pretty unique. Usually, buyers are hounded by people. But she had tried our product and really loved it,” Pollock said.
Kroger picked up the Chomp Size, which are half-sized versions of the original Nightingale ice cream sandwiches, in five flavors: Cookie Monster, Strawberry Shortcake, Chocolate Blackout, Banana Pudding and Mocha Brownie.
Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches have been picked up by Kroger. The grocery chain picked up the Chomp Size in five flavors: Cookie Monster, Strawberry Shortcake, Chocolate Blackout, Banana Pudding and Mocha Brownie.
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The Chomp size sell in 4-packs for a suggested retail price of $6.99.
“I was all in with them…I felt that it was premium quality with a differentiated option at a price point that wasn’t out of reach,” Kroger’s Meghan Barton told Fast Company about picking up Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches. “Having a premium offering with cleaner ingredients and different flavor profiles I think will do really well.”
Ramping up production
Nightingale now makes 60,000 ice cream sandwiches per day with a staff of 80 employees.
“When we started, we made 100 a week,” Pollock said. Production grew in leaps and bounds, turning out thousands of ice cream sandwiches per day.
What started as a handcrafted product that Pollock and Meers made themselves is still a handcrafted product, made by more staff with the right equipment.
“At Nightingale, we focus on the product. We don’t negotiate on that,” Pollack said. “It’s not trendy. It’s not a flash in the pan. It’s just a really delicious product. That’s what we focus on. It’s why we believe we’re successful and why we continue to grow.”
Handcrafted in small batches, Nightingale ice cream sandwiches are made with a 14% butterfat ice cream and fresh baked cookies.
Nightingale has grown 80% year over year since 2023 and 700% overall, Pollock said.
While Pollock wasn’t able to offer any details on the time frame for the new Nightingale facility on Transport Street, she said, “We need more space to be able to fill on a national level. We are prepared to handle that volume this year.”
Ice cream sandwiches are prepared for packaging at the Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches facility, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
A handcrafted, Richmond-specific treat
Nightingale was born as a grown-up version of a childhood treat. Real cookies, made with real ice cream. All by hand.
Nightingale continues to source some of the ingredients locally, such as using Blanchard’s coffee in the Mocha Brownie flavor.
“People just love that flavor of Blanchard’s,” Pollack said. “You can really tell a difference.”
“Nightingale has a true cult following,” Molly Szkotak Hugel, who was recently brought on to head up marketing for the ice cream company, said. “It really goes back to the product. Once you experience a Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwich, it’s unlike any other frozen treat you’ll come across.”
A worker prepares ice cream at the Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches facility, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
Katrina Giavos of Stella’s Market has been carrying Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches since 2016. “If I had three freezers, I would carry them in every single flavor. I can’t keep them in stock. Everyone loves them,” Giavos said.
As for expanding into a larger facility in Richmond, Pollock said it never crossed their mind to move anywhere else.
“We love this city. I was born here. I think the Richmond community is also why we’ve been so successful. When we started, it was collaborations with local businesses that helped us grow,” Pollock said. “We really want to support the Richmond community and give back what they gave to us. This is the perfect location for this product.”
PHOTOS: Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches
Katherine Hernandez works at the Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches facility, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
A worker prepares ice cream at the Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches facility, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
People work at the Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches facility, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
Ice cream sandwiches are prepared for packaging at the Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches facility, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
Aurelia Solano works at the Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches facility, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
Norma Cano works at the Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches facility, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
Freshly made cookies are prepared to be made into ice cream sandwiches at the Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches facility, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
Freshly made cookies are prepared to be made into ice cream sandwiches at the Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches facility, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
Xavier Meers and Hannah Pollack pose for a portrait at the Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches facility in Manchester, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches, 2017.
2017, ALEXA WELCH EDLUND/times-dispatch
ILLUSTRATION: Ice cream photographed Friday, February 24, 2017.
ALEXA WELCH EDLUND
Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches made by husband and wife team, Xavier Meers and Hannah Pollack.
MARK GORMUS/TIMES-DISPATCH
Xavier Meers of Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches makes a delivery to Ellwood Thompson’s Market, Tues. Feb. 21, 2017.
MARK GORMUS/TIMES-DISPATCH
Husband and wife team, Xavier Meers and Hannah Pollack of Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches, work in their kitchen space at Westbury Pharmacy in Henrico County VA Mon. Feb. 20, 2017.
MARK GORMUS/TIMES-DISPATCH
Married couple Xavier Meers and Hannah Pollack left behind careers in restaurant kitchens to start their Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches business, which currently operates out of Westbury Pharmacy. Pollack, a Richmond native, comes up with the ice cream flavors and sandwich creations, and Brussels-born Meers sells and delivers the goods.
MARK GORMUS/TIMES-DISPATCH
Husband and wife team, Xavier Meers and Hannah Pollack of Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches, work in their kitchen space at Westbury Pharmacy in Henrico County VA Mon. Feb. 20, 2017.
MARK GORMUS/TIMES-DISPATCH
Hannah Pollack of Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches, portions out the Cookie Monster ice cream she made for ice cream sandwiches Mon. Feb. 20, 2017.
MARK GORMUS/TIMES-DISPATCH
Hannah Pollack of Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches takes Cookie Monster ice cream sandwiches to the freezer. Pollack and her husband make upwards of 1,200 of the preservative-free sandwiches per week and rely on local suppliers for ingredients.
MARK GORMUS/TIMES-DISPATCH
Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches made by husband and wife team, Xavier Meers and Hannah Pollack.
MARK GORMUS/TIMES-DISPATCH
Husband-and-wife team Hannah Pollack and Xavier Meers are the brains behind Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches.
2017, MARK GORMUS, TIMES-DISPATCH