When one thinks of the classic hit “My Way,” legendary crooner Frank Sinatra comes to mind as singer-songwriter Paul Anka, although terrified, penned the signature song for his friend/hero. Released in 1969 with a big-band orchestra, the song represented American bravado and “Ol’ Blue Eye’s” ability to live a full life without regrets. Just like the lyrics to the celebrated song, Moline, Ill.-based Whitey’s Ice Cream, which celebrates its 90th anniversary in May, has been able to “plan each careful step along the byway” by doing it “their way.”
Under the leadership of owners and brothers Jon and Jeff Tunberg, Whitey’s Ice Cream produces 90 flavors of handcrafted premium ice cream and yogurt in such fan favorites as Graham Central Station (which was awarded the top spot at the 2012 World Dairy Expo with a nearly perfect score of 99 out of 100 points), Moose Tracks™, Blue Moon, White Tiger Paws, Black Raspberry Chip, Mango Raspberry, Banana Graham, Butter Pecan and many more. Additionally, around 235 shop employees in eight locations (four in Illinois and four in Iowa) mix up extra thick shakes and malts (including its famous upside-down varietals) in thousands of flavor combinations — on a high-powered malt machine Whitey’s invented in 1971. There’s also candy bar shakes with crushed Butterfingers, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, M&Ms, Kit Kat, Heath, Snickers, and Oreos, with Whitey’s going through a million Oreos and producing 500,000 gallons of ice cream annually.