This week, Dippin’ Dots, the maker of the cryogenically frozen bead-based ice cream sold at ballparks, fairgrounds, and pretty much anywhere else kids convene in America, announced they’d formed a partnership with edible cutlery maker IncrEDIBLE Eats to offer the startup’s environmentally friendly spoons in select locations.
According to the announcement, Dippin’ Dots has shipped samples of the edible spoons to all locations and will begin rolling out the cookie-ish cutlery in select locations across the country.
“They will start in select locations – mostly aquariums, zoos – with a goal to introduce early summer,” IncrEDIBLE Eats founder Dinesh Tadepalli told The Spoon.
According to Tadepalli, he initially approached Dippin’ Dots through Linkedin. It wasn’t long before they connected and the large ice cream company offered to share booth space at the big IAAPA amusement park industry expo in November.
Six months later, Tadepalli has come full circle. He first came up with the idea for the edible spoon after buying ice cream with a disposable plastic spoon for his kids, and now his startup is partnering up with one of the country’s biggest ice cream companies.
And what does his company have in store for the rest of 2022? One thing is introducing the second-generation product, which Tadepalli describes as “more bitable and tastier.” He also says they’ll introduce new products, including edible straws and chopsticks.
What this year won’t include is working with Lori Greiner. Tadepalli told me that despite an offer of investment on Shark Tank last fall, in the end, they ultimately couldn’t come to terms with the shark.
Despite their lack of a deal, Tadepalli says the higher awareness – aka the Shark Tank Effect – for his company of being on a hit show is well worth it.
“We are happy with the awareness after being on Shark Tank,” said Tadepalli.