Episode 86: Sarah Johnston with Fat Cat Creamery

As a child, Sarah Johnston, founder of Houston’s Fat Cat Creamery, hand-cranked creative homemade ice creams for family and friends. Following a career as a commercial real estate marketer, she leased space in a neighborhood strip mall to turn her childhood love of craft ice cream into a successful business. 

Fat Cat Creamery offers quality uniquely flavored frozen desserts and baked goods. “I started working with alcoholic beverages in some of my ice cream creations and it soon became my specialty,” says Sarah. “Waterloo Strawberry and Cream” made with gin and “Milk Chocolate Stout” with beer are among the concept’s signature products. Add handmade waffle cones, fresh-baked cookies, brownies, and old-fashioned sodas to complete the menu.

Sarah shares how monthly “flavor meetings” promote creativity and staff engagement. She also explains how seasonal tastings for customers helped build the business’s loyal following. From a single retail location, Fat Cat Creamery has grown to distribute its wares via wholesale distribution and an airport kiosk location.