Ashley Vetter

Ashley Vetter is the founder and CEO of Vetter's Organic Ice Cream, a San Clemente-based company that produces gluten-free, dairy-free, no-refined-sugar ice cream sandwiches and pints. The brand was born from a personal mission: after her husband Justin was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, Vetter discovered through a nutritionist that a clean diet could improve his quality of life. A Whole30 challenge with friends sparked the idea for a healthy ice cream alternative, and she set out to create treats that people with cancer, neurological diseases, or health-conscious lifestyles could actually enjoy.

Vetter's Organic Ice Cream uses dates and organic maple syrup as sweeteners and is organically certified. The company partnered with the Michael J. Fox Foundation, and every package displays the foundation's branding. As of the episode, Vetter had raised $650,000 for Team Fox. Products are sold in 56 stores with acceptance pending at 50 additional locations, and the brand operates its own shop in San Clemente. Sales reached nearly $500,000 in the prior year, and Costco was sampling the sandwiches for potential distribution.

Scaling remains the central challenge. Vetter is weighing whether to bootstrap or pursue outside capital to grow from a regional brand into a national or global ice cream company.