A kid in a candy store? How about an ice cream lover getting paid to savor their delight all day long? Sounds too good to be true, but it’s for real.
Van Leeuwen, the beloved New York City ice cream brand known for its extra-rich French-style extra-egg and vegan ice cream flavors announced its nationwide search for a lead ice cream taster on Monday. The winner will get unlimited ice cream for a year and also help co-founder and CEO Ben Van Leeuwen and the team create a new flavor, to help celebrate Van Leeuwen’s 15th anniversary and National Ice Cream Day.
“I can’t count the number of times over the years people have said ‘if you ever need an ice cream taster!,” Van Leeuwen said. “So now’s your chance! If you’ve ever wanted to eat ice cream every day or had ice cream flavor ideas, this is for you — our customers often have the best ideas so we’re excited to see what the LICT comes up with!”
Van Leeuwen is calling the lead ice cream taster the “ultimate ice cream insider” who will help brainstorm new creations, receive regular shipments of flavors to taste for quality control, and test flavors that are developing.
You’ll need to really think outside the box if you want this job, two of the new flavors are Hidden Valley Ranch and Kraft Macaroni & Cheese as Van Leeuwen ice creams. Who would have thought of these?
The winner will be flown to New York City, with flights covered, and hosted for a two-night stay at the Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg.
It’s not much of a prize if you already live in the Big Apple, but there are lots of other perks. You’ll experience Big Dairy by joining a production run at the Van Leeuwen factory, dip into a “Scoop Shop Tour” with the CEO, and get to be the most popular person on the block as you dole out free ice cream from an iconic truck at the original spot in SoHo where Van Leeuwen first got its start in 2008.
If you’re not based in New York City or the surrounding areas, you can apply online for a chance to become Van Leeuwen’s lead ice cream taster.
Here’s how: Submit a video to moc.maercecinewueelnav@tsetnoc on why you should be crowned the title of Van Leeuwen’s LICT. The video should include these three details:
- why you love ice cream
- your favorite Van Leeuwen flavor
- and why you want to be Van Leeuwen’s LICT.
Bonus points if you incorporate Van Leeuwen in your video and post your video on social media.
The final date to enter is July 6, 2023. The winner will be notified on July 10 and flown to New York City from July 17 to 19. If you’re under 18, you can enter with parental or guardian permission.
For more details, visit vanleeuwenicecream.com/LICTcontest.
