Industry Manufacturing Founded 1973 | Revenue Unknown CAD Headquarters Markdale, Ontario, Canada Type of business Private | |
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Key people Penny Chapman and David Chapman (founders) Products Ice Cream
Frozen Yogurt
See: Other food products Profiles | ||
Chapman's is the largest independent ice cream and ice water products manufacturer in Canada. In 1973, David and Penny Chapman purchased the Creamery in Markdale, Ontario, a village just south of Georgian Bay. The company started out as a small creamery with four employees and two trucks and has grown into a multimillion-dollar business since then. Chapman's produces products under the company brand name, as well as store brand products. They are also known for their range of ice creams for people with special dietary needs. Chapman's Products are distributed across Canada. Production is still centred in Markdale and the company also operates a 140,000 sq ft (13,000 m2) distribution centre south of town on Highway 10. There is another distribution centre in Hampton, New Brunswick to serve the Atlantic provinces.
The company was the first dairy products company in Ontario to have its own wastewater treatment plant. They have been recognized by their industry and by the Province of Ontario for their ecological leadership. David and Penny Chapman's son, Ashley, currently runs the business.
On September 4, 2009, a major fire gutted the Chapman's creamery. No employees were hurt in the blaze. Chapman's had been using a smaller plant since the fire, but on September 4, 2010 they opened its new facility on the anniversary of the destruction of the old plant. The smaller plant was converted into a nut facility, while the addition of the new plant became a nut-free facility (the larger of the two plants is about quadruple the size of the old one) allowed the hiring of 50 to 100 new employees.