124 | BusinessWorld | August-September 2014
self-concocted ice cream mixture at home.
Upon doing so, he discovered it would
freeze the ice cream faster and result in
smaller crystals and a smoother, creamier
endproduct.
He took that introductory knowledge and
opened up a small retail store in Lexington,
Ky. in 1988, but any grand visions for
success were soon tempered by the initial
customer's purchase of choice.
Lucky for him, though, the early encounter
wasn't too indicative of the future.
“The very first person that walked in
actually ordered a soda,”saidSteve
Rothenstein with a laugh. “So I think from
that very first sale, I'm not sure he could
have envisionedwhatwas coming.”
Fast-forward 26 years and Jones is chief
executive officer of an international
operation through which his invention –
