When Ronica Tucker and Heather Boyett concocted their first batch of lowfat, vitamin fortified ice cream treats in the fall of 2002, they had no idea that they were violating an unwritten rule of the dairy industry. They also had no idea that it would put them in front of ice cream's latest wave of growth potential. But now they are, if you will pardon the metaphor, ready to surf.
The two San Antonio moms were laying the groundwork to launch a chain of healthful sandwich shops that would free them from their employment at Boeing Aerospace when they had their fateful encounter with ice cream. Working in Tucker's home kitchen, with ingredients from the local GNC and only a laymen's understanding of food science, they were trying to design a nutritional beverage they could sell along with the sandwiches. Something inspired them to pour some of the mixture in ice cube trays and insert Popsicle sticks.