Arctic Ice Cream 22 Arctic Parkway, Trenton (609) 393-4264
(Directions)

Editor’s Pick for Best Ice Cream sold in Bulk

Arctic has been manufacturing Ice Cream in Trenton since 1931. Actually, the original factory was on Hermitage Avenue. The current factory (a WWII era quonset hut where they’ve manufactured for only 55 years or so), is one block into Ewing, though it has a Trenton postal address. According to Tom Green, the owner, the same two Polish women have operated the packing line for 49 years.

Arctic is a great place to buy ice cream if you’re stocking up for a party. The smallest container is a half gallon ($5), or you can get the 3 gallon tub ($24.64). It comes in (count ‘em) 45 flavors (though not all flavors are available year round).

Some of the flavors have a cult following. For example, the Peanut Butter Ice Cream is the only ice cream served at Chick and Nello’s Homestead Restaurant in Hamilton. And you can find references on the web to many other establishments in NJ that proudly and exclusively serve Arctic’s products.

My own limited taste sample suggests that the ice cream is pretty darn good. It doesn’t have the butterfat content of a super-premium, but is delicious all the same. Note that a 3-gallon tub works out to $1.03/pint, 74% cheaper than a pint of Hagen Daz.
In addition to their own products, Arctic stocks a large number of ice cream novelties which they sell by the case at very reasonable prices: popsicles, ice cream bars, as well as Spumoni, Tartuffe, and tiramisu.

Well worth checking out. There’s also a lovely little breakfast and lunch counter with a full ice cream bar on the premises.

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