Iola Pryz-Taylor’s new Peterborough venture, Cold Duck Creamery, is redefining frozen treats with a unique twist: rich, locally sourced duck eggs. Inspired by sustainable living, her small-batch frozen custard offers a creamier, richer alternative to traditional ice cream, highlighting the value of local ingredients and artisanal quality.
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Key Takeaways:
- Cold Duck Creamery uses local duck eggs for a uniquely rich frozen custard.
- The business sources ingredients locally, emphasizing freshness and quality.
- Current operations are online with pickup, with plans for a mobile trailer and future agritourism farm.
The Secret Ingredient: Rich Duck Eggs
Unlike conventional ice cream or frozen yogurt, frozen custard incorporates egg yolks, giving it a denser, smoother texture. Cold Duck Creamery takes this a step further by using fresh farm-raised duck eggs as its signature ingredient.
Pryz-Taylor explains that duck eggs are higher in fat and nutrients than chicken eggs. This difference translates directly into the final product, providing a significantly creamier, richer, and more “whole” flavor profile that sets her custard apart from competitors.
“I think everyone’s always looking for something new and unique to try,” Pryz-Taylor says, emphasizing the transparency of her ingredients and the focus on small batches to ensure maximum freshness.
Sourcing Local, Crafting Unique Flavors
A core principle of Cold Duck Creamery is its commitment to local sourcing, echoing Pryz-Taylor’s upbringing on a sustainable farm. The key duck eggs come from Honeycomb Poultry Patch in Carrying Place, Ontario. Other ingredients like Canadian milk and locally sourced coffee beans and tea from Peterborough producers are also incorporated.
This local focus allows Cold Duck Creamery to not only support other regional businesses but also ensure high-quality, fresh components for their custard.
The menu features a mix of traditional and innovative flavors. Alongside classics like chocolate and strawberry, customers can find unique options such as banana bread, cold brew coffee, and London fog. While Pryz-Taylor has her favorites, the banana bread flavor has quickly become a customer favorite.
Assorted tubs of creamy frozen custard from Cold Duck Creamery, featuring unique flavors and local duck egg ingredients in Peterborough
From Kitchen to Community: Business Model & Future
Currently, Cold Duck Creamery operates primarily through online orders, with customers picking up their treats directly from Pryz-Taylor’s home-based industrial kitchen in Peterborough. This kitchen was made possible, in part, through support like a grant received from the Starter Company Plus program, highlighting the supportive ecosystem for small businesses in the area.
“Peterborough is great for supporting small businesses,” she notes.
Looking ahead, Pryz-Taylor is set to expand her reach. Her newly acquired concession trailer will allow Cold Duck Creamery to appear at local markets and vendor events. This step is crucial for brand visibility, allowing potential customers to sample the product and experience the unique quality firsthand.
The long-term vision extends beyond mobile sales. Pryz-Taylor aims to purchase farmland and develop an agritourism destination. This space would serve as a place where visitors can experience a farm setting and purchase the frozen custard directly at the source, fully embodying the farm-to-treat concept.
What’s Next for Cold Duck Creamery
Cold Duck Creamery’s journey from a home kitchen operation built on sustainable principles and a unique ingredient is poised for growth. The move to a concession trailer will increase public access and brand awareness, vital steps for a new food business. The ambitious goal of an agritourism farm suggests a deep commitment to the brand’s roots and a desire to create an immersive customer experience centered around local food and sustainable practices.
For consumers in Peterborough and surrounding areas, Cold Duck Creamery offers a distinctively rich and flavorful frozen treat with a compelling local story. As the business expands its presence, it will be interesting to watch how its unique value proposition resonates with a wider audience.
(Readers interested in supporting local businesses or learning about food entrepreneurship might find related articles on our site insightful.)
