Sanrio®, renowned for Hello Kitty®, has teamed up with Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, a beloved NYC-based brand known for its artisanal dairy and vegan ice creams, to unveil a special Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary flavor on National Ice Cream Day, July 21. Available exclusively on this day at Van Leeuwen scoop shops nationwide, the limited-edition Yummy Berry White Chocolate Truffle Ice Cream pays tribute to Hello Kitty with its blend of white chocolate ice cream swirled with sweet red raspberry jam (reminiscent of Hello Kitty’s iconic bow) and infused with chunks of truffle brownies.
In the spirit of Hello Kitty’s message of friendship and kindness, and Van Leeuwen’s commitment to positivity, 50% of the profits from this flavor will be donated to kindness.org, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting kindness through education and inspiration.
Craig Takiguchi, Chief Operating Officer of Sanrio, Inc., expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating, “With this delightful partnership, we aim to bring smiles to everyone and create memorable moments for fans nationwide as we celebrate Hello Kitty’s milestone anniversary.”
To celebrate the launch, Van Leeuwen and Sanrio will host a pop-up event at the Van Leeuwen Tribeca shop (310 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013) on National Ice Cream Day. The event will feature the special flavor available by the scoop, Hello Kitty-themed sundaes and shakes, and limited-edition merchandise such as friendship bracelets from Little Words Project, known for its dedication to fostering kindness within communities.
Ben Van Leeuwen, Co-Founder and CEO of Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, added, “We’re thrilled to create our cutest flavor yet with global icon Hello Kitty. This collaboration is something truly special for National Ice Cream Day.”
Jaclyn Lindsey, Co-founder & CEO of kindness.org, shared her enthusiasm: “We’re delighted to partner with Van Leeuwen Ice Cream and Sanrio in celebrating Hello Kitty’s 50th anniversary on National Ice Cream Day. This collaboration allows us to spread joy while supporting our mission to inspire kindness nationwide.”
This event promises to bring happiness and create lasting memories for Hello Kitty enthusiasts across the United States.
