Hillary Frei on Scooping Up 80+ Years of Success

What does it take to grow an 81-year-old brand… without completely melting what made it special in the first place?For Hillary Frei, it’s not about reinventing the wheel — it’s about knowing which parts of the recipe you don’t touch.Founded in 1945 by Alice Handel, Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream has gone from a single backyard-inspired stand to one of the fastest-growing concepts in the country — all while staying rooted in quality, consistency, and a little bit of nostalgia.In this episode, Hillary shares how she’s scaling a legacy brand in a modern world — from national expansion and operational discipline to evolving the menu without losing loyal fans along the way.It’s a conversation about growth, longevity, and building something that doesn’t just chase trends… but actually lasts.Because in a category where things can melt pretty quickly, some brands just know how to keep their cool.