Tom Carvel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tom Carvel
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Carvel and his wife Agnes in 1969
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| Born |
Athanasios Thomas Karvelas (Greek: Ἀθανάσιος Καρβέλας)
July 14, 1906 |
| Died | October 21, 1990 (aged 84) Pine Plains, New York, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Known for | Founder of Carvel Ice Cream |
Tom Carvel (born Athanasios Karvelas; July 14, 1906 – October 21, 1990) was a clever businessman from Greece who moved to America. He became famous for creating and selling soft ice cream in the northeastern United States. Tom Carvel was the person who started the popular Carvel ice cream company and its special way of doing business called "franchising."
How Tom Carvel Started His Business
Tom Carvel began his ice cream journey in 1929. He sold ice cream from his truck in a place called Hartsdale, New York. One holiday weekend in 1934, his truck got a flat tire. He had to pull over into a parking lot next to a pottery shop.
His ice cream started to melt because the truck couldn't move. So, Tom decided to sell the melting ice cream right there to people driving by. The pottery shop owner was kind and let him use electricity. This helped Tom keep selling his ice cream from his parked truck. In just two days, he sold all his ice cream! This made him realize he could earn more money by selling from one fixed spot instead of driving around.
Creating the Carvel Brand
In 1936, Tom Carvel bought the pottery shop. He turned it into a permanent ice cream stand by the road. This was a big deal because Carvel became the first company to sell and market soft ice cream from a fixed store.
That same year, he officially started the Carvel Brand Corporation. He also created a special, secret recipe for his soft-serve ice cream.
Tom Carvel also invented new refrigeration machines. He even sold the designs for these machines to others. After World War II, he started to let other people open their own Carvel ice cream stores. This business model is called "franchising." It means someone pays to use a company's name and business plan.
Tom Carvel was often in his own TV commercials. The company believed that his unique, gravelly voice and friendly personality helped make his business a huge success.
The Carvel company became well-known for its delicious ice cream cakes. Many of these cakes were shaped like fun animals. Two of the most famous ice cream treats from his business were "Fudgie The Whale" and "Cookie Puss".
