# Live Episode! Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams: Jeni Britton Bauer

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2018-02-28
- Length: 46m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-02-28-live-episode-jenis-splendid-ice-creams-jeni-britton-bauer

## Summary

Jeni Britton Bauer, founder of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, recounts her journey from a perfume enthusiast to an ice cream innovator, detailing how she leveraged her background in scent and art history to create unique flavors like Cayenne Chocolate. She describes the early struggles of her first stall, Scream, and the pivotal decision to drop out of Ohio State University to pursue ice cream full-time. Bauer also explains how a 2015 Listeria recall forced a complete operational overhaul, leading to a stronger, community-focused company that now operates over 30 stores.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-02-28-live-episode-jenis-splendid-ice-creams-jeni-britton-bauer#t=0) Introduction: Jeni Britton Bauer and Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
- [3:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-02-28-live-episode-jenis-splendid-ice-creams-jeni-britton-bauer#t=186) From Perfume to Ice Cream: The Origin Story
- [14:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-02-28-live-episode-jenis-splendid-ice-creams-jeni-britton-bauer#t=853) Launching Scream and Early Struggles
- [23:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-02-28-live-episode-jenis-splendid-ice-creams-jeni-britton-bauer#t=1393) Rebooting Jeni's and Securing Funding
- [34:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-02-28-live-episode-jenis-splendid-ice-creams-jeni-britton-bauer#t=2077) Scaling Operations and Hiring CEO John Reed
- [40:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-02-28-live-episode-jenis-splendid-ice-creams-jeni-britton-bauer#t=2429) The 2015 Listeria Recall and Crisis Management
- [45:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-02-28-live-episode-jenis-splendid-ice-creams-jeni-britton-bauer#t=2710) Reflections on Success, Luck, and Future Vision

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams (company)
- Scream Ice Cream (product)
- North Market (other)
- Ohio State University (other)
- Penn State Ice Cream School (other)
- Dean and DeLuca (company)
- GE (company)
- Bassett's (company)
- Cuisinart (tool)
- FDA (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Founder Feature: Liv Truesdell of FROST Buttercream](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-12-12-founder-feature-liv-truesdell-of-frost-buttercream) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Hannah Pollack of Nightingale Ice Cream](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-04-10-founder-feature-hannah-pollack-of-nightingale-ice-cream) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Dip Into Paradise with Founder Emily Edwards](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2021-03-01-dip-into-paradise-with-founder-emily-edwards) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Jenifer Shwartz of Freezcake](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-03-28-founder-feature-jenifer-shwartz-of-freezcake) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Janie's Life-Changing Baked Goods](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2021-05-24-janies-life-changing-baked-goods) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

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