Frozen Solutions 2024: MAGIC Color Changing® Spoons and More…

Mitch Kleinman is the CEO of Frozen Solutions, a company known for delivering innovative products to the frozen treat industry with a commitment to exemplary customer service. Starting with the first-to-market MAGIC Color Changing® Spoons, Mitch has spearheaded the introduction of numerous industry firsts, including color-changing straws, bowls, cups, and patented edible dividers. Under his leadership, Frozen Solutions has become a trusted partner for unique, high-quality products, proudly made in the USA, while maintaining fair pricing and exceptional client support. DeliveryRank had the pleasure of talking to Mitch about his leadership of Frozen Solutions..

Mitch, what can you tell us about the beginnings of Frozen Solutions, and how it evolved to where it is today?

Frozen Solutions began with a color-changing spoon. At the time, I was working with a company selling straws to major chains, through a contract with a factory. The owner of the factory had thermochromatic polycarbonate plastic that he was adding to regular polypropylene for straws. I saw an opportunity and asked him, “If I come up with a good idea, would you give me an exclusive?” He agreed, as long as I could sell a full container of the product.

I proposed using the thermochromatic plastic for spoons, specifically for ice cream and frozen yogurt, knowing kids would love the color-changing effect. I was so captivated by the idea that within a month of receiving the spoons, I sold an entire container. In fact, I sold out within six weeks. 

From there, we expanded, adding color-changing bowls and selling to ice cream, frozen yogurt, gelato, and snow cone stores. These stores began asking for matching cups, so we started providing stock and custom cups. Our offerings soon evolved to include everything a frozen yogurt or frozen treat shop might need. We eventually expanded into restaurants, supplying them with takeout containers, deli bags, and other products.

Our success led us to work with major distributors like Sysco, US Foods, and Performance Food Group, and we began offering custom-printed products for large chains. We entered into floor stock agreements, warehousing products for chains with 25 to 200 stores, which their franchisees could order directly from our website. This streamlined the supply process, allowing them to access products faster if needed.

Recently, we've expanded further with the launch of our eco-friendly, compostable line of containers, cups, spoons, and bowls. Additionally, we’ve added restaurant equipment to our offerings, such as frozen drink, milkshake, and soft-serve machines. Over time, Frozen Solutions has continued to evolve, adapting to the needs of our clients while maintaining our commitment to innovation.

What inspired the creation of the MAGIC Color Changing® line, and how did you develop the technology to make these products both unique and practical for everyday use?

I developed the product line, though someone else came up with the technology. If you remember Trix cereal, they used to include a color-changing spoon inside as a fun surprise for kids—that’s how the idea began. There was a molded spoon with "Trix" on it, but it hadn’t really made it into the mainstream. I saw the potential and was so captivated by the concept—it made me smile every time I looked at it. That’s why I changed my title from CEO to Chief Smiles Officer, because every time I see that spoon, it still makes me laugh.

Innovation is at the core of your company. Could you share some of the challenges you faced in developing your first-to-market products, and how you overcame them?

Our first-to-market product was the color-changing spoon, and as a startup, the challenge was how to get people to notice it and convince them to pay double the price of a regular spoon. At the time, a standard spoon cost about two and a half cents, while ours were priced at a nickel each, with a $50 case compared to $24 for the standard. Convincing ice cream shops to double their cost for a spoon was a hurdle, especially when large chains like Sonic were hesitant to adopt color-changing straws due to cost increases.

To overcome this, we introduced seven colors of spoons and encouraged customers to buy different colors over time, using a marketing strategy of “collect all seven.” This played into the fact that kids often dictate where families go for ice cream, and the magic of the color-changing spoon made it memorable. We then introduced a branded, reusable 16 oz ice cream cup with a promotion: customers who brought the bowl back would get rewards like free toppings or discounts, which were advertised through social media. Some chains sold the bowls for $2-3 and offered 50% off refills, while larger chains bought thousands for summer promotions.

To address the challenge of offering a higher-cost, disposable product, we introduced a heavier-weight spoon with a hole for a keychain, allowing customers to collect and display the spoons. This added value through collectability and brand loyalty. Ultimately, it’s one thing to create a product that everyone thinks is cool, but another to demonstrate how the investment will generate returns through brand appeal and customer retention. By elevating the product’s appeal, we showed businesses that the investment would pay off through increased brand loyalty and repeat business. 

How do you ensure quality and consistency across your product range, especially with the complexities of producing items both in the USA and overseas?

In the U.S., we try to maintain strong relationships with our suppliers, supply chain, and factories. However, the pandemic completely disrupted that, as everyone was scrambling to find products, often with limited availability. It was a challenging time, and we reached out to local factories that made big promises but ultimately underdelivered.

Since then, we've implemented stricter quality control procedures. We now conduct on-site inspections at remote factories, perform random checks, and ensure everything meets our standards before it leaves. While some issues do arise, we are committed to resolving them quickly to maintain the quality of our products.

Customer service is a big part of your brand's philosophy. How do you maintain strong relationships with your customers, and what role does customer feedback play in your product development?

It's less about product development and more about ensuring customer satisfaction. We have a full-time customer support team that handles calls and emails, and if they can't answer immediately, we have a robust messaging system to ensure a quick response. Our goal is to get back to customers within two to four hours, whether they call, email, or fill out a form on our website. If there's an issue, we address it promptly.

We also engage in email marketing to keep our customers informed about specials, promotions, new items, and blogs. On social media, we're active on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook, with plans to launch a Twitter channel soon. This helps us stay connected with our customers and keep them engaged.

With a focus on customization and low minimum orders, how do you balance the needs of small businesses with larger commercial demands, and what strategies do you use to cater to both markets effectively?

We have a diverse sales team, and while many smaller orders remain small, there are also a lot of small companies that start to grow. We make sure to treat even those making small custom orders with the same level of care as our largest clients, so they feel valued and want to continue working with us. It's not always about price—though it's easy to think it is. Often, our customers are willing to justify a slightly higher product cost because they know we provide excellent customer service. They can trust that, even if we aren’t available at 6:00 a.m. New York time, they'll always receive a prompt call back. This commitment is simply part of how we operate.

If you would like to find out more about Frozen Solutions, please visit https://frozen-solutions.com/