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In June of 1995, Charlie Beaton began producing Big Dipper Ice Cream in the back of the newly opened Kettle
House Brewery. A used ice cream machine, -40 degree blast freezer and quality ingredients were about all
it took to make the great gourmet ice cream that people are still enjoying today. With just wholesale business
in mind, Big Dipper quickly captured the wholesale market selling to restaurants, coffee shops and grocery stores.
Within a year, Charlie along with new wife Barbie and long time friend Dale Bickell moved the operation to the
corner of 5th and Higgins and began a retail store along with the existing wholesale business.
Big Dipper has become a household name in Missoula and beyond, winning Best of Missoula awards yearly as well as
garnering national attention in Food and Wine Magazine and most recently in Budget Travel Magazine. In 2002, Dale
sold his shares of Big Dipper and is currently CFO of Missoula County as well as CPA and consultant for Big Dipper
Ice Cream. Today Big Dipper stays busy even in the colder months. Better seating and improved landscaping are in
the immediate future for Big Dipper as well as plans for a major facelift in the next few years.
Big Dipper Ice Cream
631 S. Higgins
Missoula MT 59801
406.543.5722 |
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