Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches to expand in Richmond, creating 166 jobs

If you’ve never had a Nightingale ice cream sandwich, that might be because I’ve eaten them all, so, I apologize.

My favorite: banana pudding, because, obviously.

You can’t go wrong with cookie monster, or really, any of them.

I’m apparently not alone among the fans. Nightingale, which is based in Richmond, announced this week that it’s investing $5.8 million to move into a new production facility and corporate headquarters.

The project will create 166 new jobs.

“What began in the kitchen of a Richmond restaurant has grown into something beyond what we ever imagined,” said Hannah Pollack, the CEO, president and co-founder of Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches, along with her husband, Xavier Meers.

Founded in 2016, Nightingale manufactures specialty ice cream sandwiches that are non-GMO and free of artificial ingredients and dye. Nightingale is now found in over 5,000 chain and independent grocers nationwide, including Whole Foods Market, Kroger, The Fresh Market and Harris Teeter.

The new Nightingale facility is located on a 5.01-acre lot and was originally constructed in 1983. It is approximately 29,000 square feet, with 24,000 square feet designated for production use.

“Nightingale is a homegrown Richmond success story. What began with the creativity and vision of founders Hannah Pollack and Xavier Meers has grown into a nationally recognized brand,” Richmond Mayor Danny Avula said. “We’re proud to support their continued expansion through local tools like the Enterprise Zone program, which helps small businesses grow, reinvest, and create quality jobs right here in our community.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership will support Nightingale’s job creation through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program, which provides consultative services and funding to companies creating new jobs in order to support employee recruitment and training activities.

“Receiving this support from the Commonwealth is an incredible honor and a powerful vote of confidence in our vision,” Pollack said. “We’re deeply grateful for the support which will help us accelerate our growth while staying true to our Richmond, Va., roots. As we expand, our commitment to this community remains stronger than ever.”