Based in Searcy (White County), Yarnell’s Ice Cream Company operated for four generations under the Yarnell family from 1932 to 2011, serving as Arkansas's sole ice cream-producing company. Following its closure due to bankruptcy in 2011, the company was acquired by Schulze and Burch Biscuit Co. and reintroduced in April 2012.
Before Yarnell’s, the Grisham Ice Cream Company, known for producing Grisham’s Angel Food Ice Cream, was headquartered in Searcy in 1923, and later merged with the Terry Dairy Company in 1927.
During the 1920s, Grisham and several other community ice cream companies in Arkansas were essential in rural areas with limited electricity. It wasn't until 1929 that Grisham acquired a refrigerated truck, enabling the company to extend its reach through its first truck route, using salt and ice to keep the ice cream cold. The truck ran between Searcy and Cabot (Lonoke County) in the south and to Tuckerman (Jackson County) in the north.
In 1929, facing financial difficulties, Grisham was sold to Southwest Dairy Products, known for its Dairyland brand. Subsequently, Southwest Dairy Products went bankrupt, leading Ray Yarnell purchasing the plant in 1932. Yarnell had to pool all available cash and borrow against his life insurance policy to make the purchase, facing further financial challenges when the federal government declared a “bank holiday” in March 1933, freezing his funds. Yarnell went without a salary for a year and had to borrow additional funds to sustain the business.
Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, the company steadily processed and sold ice cream products locally. Ray Yarnell's wife, Hallie, played a pivotal role as the bookkeeper, while their son Albert expanded the company's reach by delivering ice cream on his bicycle. The purchase of their first electrically refrigerated truck marked a significant milestone by the end of the 1930s.
Following his return from serving in the Signal Corps during World War II, Albert Yarnell assumed the role of vice president and sales manager in 1948. His leadership was instrumental in guiding the company through its first major plant expansion in 1951, which significantly increased the company's production capacity. This expansion led to an expanded sales territory covering central and south Arkansas. Albert Yarnell's dedication was further recognized when he was named general manager in 1960, and subsequently became president following his father's passing in 1974.
In 1970, the company achieved a significant milestone, reaching $1 million in sales. Five years later, Albert's son, Rogers Yarnell, joined the company. Notably, Yarnell's introduced the nation's first all-natural ice milk for the health-conscious market in 1978. By 1984, the company's reach extended throughout the region, earning acclaim for its "Down Home Goodness." In 1991, Yarnell's continued to innovate, introducing “Guilt Free,” touted as America's first fat-free, no-sugar-added line of ice cream.
Until its 2011 closure, Albert Yarnell served as the company’s chairman, Rogers Yarnell as president/chief executive officer, and fourth-generation Christina Yarnell, who joined the business in 2001, serving as custom brand manager. The company was known for its consistent introduction of new products alongside its traditional favorites and ice cream novelties. Yarnell’s had a strong presence in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee, and at the time of its closure, it was the only remaining ice cream company in Arkansas. Unfortunately, on June 30, 2011, the company ceased operations abruptly, attributing it to a struggling economy, difficulties in obtaining financing, and the inability to find a buyer.
In November 2011, the Schulze and Burch Biscuit Company of Chicago, Illinois, acquired the Yarnell’s plant and most of the recipes at auction for a reported sum of $1.3 million. Subsequently, the company relaunched the Yarnell’s brand in April 2012. The ceremonial scoop was made by Gov. Mike Beebe at a press conference at the state capitol on April 19, 2012. Fast forward to June 2020, the production facility in Searcy was sold by Schulze and Burch to Turkey Hill Dairy of Pennsylvania, with the company retaining ownership of the Yarnell’s brand.
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