Chapman's facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Industry | Manufacturing |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Headquarters | Markdale, Ontario, Canada 100 Chapman's Crescent N0C 1H0 |
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Area served
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Canada |
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Key people
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Penny Chapman and David Chapman (founders) |
| Products | Ice cream Frozen yogurt |
Chapman's is a well-known Canadian company that makes delicious ice cream and frozen yogurt. It is actually the largest independent ice cream maker in Canada. Chapman's makes products under its own brand name. They also make ice cream for other store brands. The company is also famous for its special ice creams for people with allergies or dietary needs. Chapman's products are sold all across Canada.
David and Penny Chapman started the company in 1973. Their son, Ashley, helps run the business today.
Contents
How Chapman's Began
In 1973, David and Penny Chapman bought a creamery in Markdale, Ontario. This village is just south of Georgian Bay. The company started small with only four employees and two trucks.
In 2001, Chapman's opened a distribution centre in New Brunswick. This helped them serve customers better in Atlantic Canada.
The Big Fire and Rebuilding
On September 4, 2009, a large fire destroyed the Chapman's creamery. Luckily, no employees were hurt in the blaze. After the fire, Chapman's used a smaller plant to keep making ice cream.
Exactly one year later, on September 4, 2010, they opened their brand new facility. The smaller plant was then changed into a "nut facility." This means it handles products that contain nuts. The new, much larger plant became a "nut-free facility." This new plant is about four times bigger than the old one. It also allowed Chapman's to hire 50 to 100 new employees.
Helping During the Pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, special vaccines needed to be kept very cold. Chapman's offered their large industrial freezers to help store these vaccines. They worked with the Grey Bruce Health Unit.
The company also made a rule for its employees. Unvaccinated employees needed to take a rapid COVID-19 test twice a week. Chapman's paid for these tests. Vaccinated employees received a small pay raise. This was to make up for the cost of the tests. Some groups called for a boycott of Chapman's because of this policy. However, many people across Canada showed support for the company. Ashley Chapman, the company's vice-president, said the boycott did not affect their sales.
Where the Ice Cream is Made
Chapman's main production is in Markdale, Ontario. There are two plants in the town. The smaller plant is about 65,000 square feet. It is a "nut facility," meaning it handles products with nuts. The larger plant is about 150,000 square feet. This plant is "nut-free."
The company also has a large distribution centre south of town. It is about 140,000 square feet. Another distribution centre is in Hampton, New Brunswick. This one serves the Atlantic provinces. Chapman's also owns a special plant to clean wastewater. It can purify about 675,000 litres of water every day. This water comes from cleaning and production processes.
