Chapman’s Ice Cream continues to grow and expand.
Chapman’s chief operating officer Ashley Chapman was at the Grey Highlands council meeting on Nov. 20 to outline plans for a major expansion of the popular ice cream-making business in Markdale.
Chapman said they are planning a 175,000-square-foot expansion that will employ 150 to 200 new workers when it is complete.
“We are expanding Chapman’s Ice Cream. We have never done anything like this before,” he said. “It’s quite an impressive building.”
Founded in 1973, the family-owned Chapman’s Ice Cream has become one of Canada’s most popular and well-known brands. The business is one of the largest employers in Grey County. Chapman said when complete, the expansion will make Chapman’s the “largest single-site ice cream manufacturer in North America.”
Chapman attended the meeting to inform Grey Highlands publicly of the expansion plans and to begin discussions about the company’s requirements for water and wastewater services.
He explained that the company has been operating on a 1999 agreement with the municipality for water and wastewater services. He said the agreement has worked well, but that the expansion means the company will need more capacity.
“Time is of the essence,” said Chapman. “What’s good for Chapman’s is good for the Municipality of Grey Highlands.”
In his presentation to council, Chapman estimated the expansion would require an additional 225 cubic metres of water flow per day and an additional 140 cubic metres of wastewater flow per day.
Chapman said the company wants to have the expansion up and running in the first quarter of 2026.
Members of council didn’t comment extensively on the presentation from Chapman and voted unanimously to ask staff for a report about the water and wastewater request from the company.
“It’s exciting to see the expansion of Chapman’s,” said Deputy Mayor Dane Nielsen. “Grey Highlands is excited and supportive.”
