Alec’s Ice Cream Scoops Up $11M To Support Regen Supply Chains

A2 dairy-based brand Alec’s Ice Cream announced today it has raised an $11 million Series A round to support farmers building regenerative supply chains and accelerate growth through marketing, portfolio and team expansion.

The round was led by Imaginary Ventures, with participation from Great Circle Ventures, Altelan Capital, DAYBREAKER, Dr. Anthony Guston and Monique Volz (Ambitious Kitchen). Imaginary Ventures’ investment portfolio spans a wide range of food and beverage categories, including brands like Lucky Energy, Ayoh! Foods and Cerebelly.

“Alec’s Ice Cream removes the trade-off between indulgence and health, delivering both flavor and function. By combining culinary creativity with nutritional integrity, the brand is winning over consumers and experiencing exceptional growth,” said Logan Langberg, partner at Imaginary Ventures and newly appointed board member at Alec’s, in a press release.

In 2022, Jaffe transitioned the brand’s ice cream line from conventional to regenerative A2 dairy, supported by $3.75 million in funding. That switch has proven fruitful; the brand grew 350% year-over-year in 2023 and was projected to grow 124% year-over-year in 2024.

“Switching to A2 dairy has been transformative,” Jaffe told Nosh. “Over the past three years, we’ve heard from countless customers who say they can finally enjoy ice cream again. A2 dairy is a perfect fit for our mission to create indulgences that not only taste amazing but also make people feel good. It’s opened the joy of ice cream to more people while reinforcing our commitment to better ingredients and a healthier food system.”

In March, the brand debuted Culture Cups, a line of single-serve, chocolate-topped, grass-fed organic ice cream cups made with A2 dairy and infused with probiotics. That item debuted with nationwide distribution at Whole Foods stores, building on the brand’s 3,000 stores footprint, which includes major retailers like Whole Foods Market, Mom’s Organic and Wegmans. The products immediately sold out in nearly all doors, Jaffe said.

The A2 dairy market, broadly, is growing faster than both conventional dairy as well as the refrigerated plant-based milk set. Refrigerated plant-based milk sales declined 4.9% and units dropped 4.5% during 2024, according to SPINS data, while A2 dollar sales continued to rise (+14.7%).

When Alec’s first transitioned its ice cream supply to A2 dairy, the company sourced solely through California-based dairy Alexandre Family Farms. However, as demand for the easier-to-digest dairy format has grown, Alec’s is working to establish its own supply network by helping conventional dairy farmers transition to regenerative practices. The self-manufactured brand now sources from four Land to Market verified farms, and portions of the new funding will go toward continuing to grow that network and support farmers during the transition period.

“The year ahead is all about scaling our reach and deepening our impact,” Jaffe said. “We’re focused on expanding distribution for Culture Cups and increasing manufacturing capacity to keep pace with growing demand. At the same time, we’re investing in building a world-class team and strengthening our regenerative supply chains to ensure we scale sustainably. These priorities will position us to grow the brand responsibly, while staying true to our brand mission.”