A surprise lineup of teenage taste-testers takes over the B-Team Podcast as Josh welcomes Hunter Gowen, founder of Honeybean Ice Cream, for a delicious exploration of entrepreneurship and artisanal ice cream in Bentonville.

The episode transforms into an educational ice cream flight as Hunter shares his remarkable journey from mechanical engineer to ice cream innovator. With candid humor, he reveals how a simple text message to his accounting-minded wife evolved into a thriving business, highlighting the challenges of marital entrepreneurship and the creative problem-solving required to launch a food truck enterprise.

What separates Honeybean from ordinary ice cream becomes deliciously apparent as Hunter breaks down the science behind super-premium ice cream (14% milk fat) and his decision to incorporate Arkansas honey into every flavor. Our teenage panel, comprised of Matt and I's daughters, provides authentic, enthusiastic reviews as they sample unique creations like "30,000 Feet" (Biscoff cookie with cookie butter), "Grandy's Medicine" (chocolate named for his grandfather), and "Wild Sweet Williams" (Earl Grey tea with blackberry and dark chocolate).

Beyond flavors, Hunter demonstrates the strategic thinking that's propelled Honeybean's growth – from private events to restaurant partnerships to their physical location on 5th Street. His business philosophy of "say yes and figure it out" embodies the entrepreneurial spirit, while his three-day production process reveals the craftsmanship behind each scoop. The conversation illuminates both the technical aspects of premium ice cream production and the heartfelt storytelling that makes each flavor memorable.

Ready to experience Bentonville's sweetest success story? Visit Honeybean at 5th and J Street, Thursday through Sunday, and discover why these handcrafted flavors are becoming a Northwest Arkansas favorite. Follow @honeybeanicc on Instagram to track their journey from food truck dream to dessert destination.

More About this Episode

How Honeybean Is Redefining Ice Cream in Bentonville – One Scoop at a Time

In the world of handcrafted, small-batch desserts, few things capture our collective nostalgia like ice cream. But in Bentonville, Arkansas, ice cream is more than a summer treat. It's a growing movement. At the heart of it is Honeybean Ice Cream, a mobile micro-creamery that’s quickly becoming a local legend. On this episode of the B-Team Podcast, I sat down with Honeybean founder and entrepreneur Hunter Gowan to unpack the sweet story behind this family-run business, their unique approach to ice cream, and the bold choices that are setting them apart in a saturated market.

From Mechanical Engineering to Microcreamery

Let’s start with the origin story. Like many entrepreneurs, Hunter’s path wasn’t a straight line. With a background in mechanical engineering and years of experience in the field, he followed the traditional career track. That is, until the persistent dream of starting a food truck resurfaced. Ice cream wasn’t the obvious choice. As Hunter explained, “There’s so much that goes into making premium ice cream: temperature control, ingredients, commercial kitchen access. But that challenge is exactly what drew me in.”

What started as a curiosity evolved into a business plan, then into a full-fledged operation. With the blessing (and cautious support) of his wife, a highly structured numbers person with a background in accounting and information systems, the couple found a food truck on Facebook Marketplace. That humble investment became the first Honeybean truck, now stationed at the corner of 5th and J in Bentonville.

Building a Brand Rooted in Quality

Honeybean isn’t just another scoop shop. Their entire brand is rooted in offering super premium ice cream - an elite classification based on two critical metrics: milk fat percentage and overrun (the amount of air incorporated during churning). At around 14.1–14.5% milk fat, Honeybean rivals and even exceeds industry giants like Haagen-Dazs and Jenny’s.

But it’s not just about technical quality. It’s about flavor, texture, and creativity. Every element of the product from the handmade waffle cones to the carefully chosen flavor names is designed to create a boutique experience. Their base ice cream is subtly sweetened with local Arkansas honey, a nod to the state’s official insect and the inspiration behind the name "Honeybean" (also a clever blend of honey and the vanilla bean that flavors many of their offerings).

Why Bentonville Needed Better Ice Cream

When Hunter and his wife moved to Bentonville, they saw a gap in the market. “There’s some good ice cream here,” he said, “but not a lot of places are doing premium, scoopable, handmade ice cream from scratch.” Seeing an opportunity, they leaned in hard.

Their early days were filled with learning curves like booking a wedding right out of the gate and discovering that using the wrong scoop can leave your hands bleeding. Despite the bumps, the demand came quickly. After booking out weekends with weddings and private events, they decided it was time to plant roots. That led to their current location on 5th and J, where they’ve traded private pop-ups for consistent walk-up service.

And while Hunter recently took the leap into running the business full-time, his wife still juggles a day job alongside the entrepreneurial hustle. “We divide and conquer,” he said, “and we play to our strengths.”

Ice Cream Flavors That Tell a Story

If there’s one thing that makes Honeybean stand out, it’s their flavor menu. These aren’t your standard vanilla-chocolate-strawberry options. These are inventive, layered creations that evoke emotion, memory, and curiosity. Here’s a glimpse into what makes them special:

  • Mammy’s Kitchen – A blueberry cobbler base swirled with pie crust for texture and warmth. It tastes like home.
  • Honeybean Vanilla – Subtly sweet with Arkansas honey and rich vanilla bean. A base flavor that’s anything but basic.
  • BSC (Brown Sugar Cinnamon) – Inspired by a Pop-Tart, this one hits you with cinnamon comfort and nostalgic crunch.
  • Arkanstrawberry – Fresh strawberry reduction (no extracts here), it’s peak summer in every bite.
  • 30,000 Feet – A Biscoff cookie base inspired by an airplane snack and named after a Ben Rector song. Yes, it’s that poetic.
  • Gold Standard – A golden Oreo creation with pecans and caramel, born from a custom request by Shiloh Christian School.
  • Grandy’s Medicine – A rich chocolate base named after Hunter’s grandfather, who treated chocolate syrup like a cure-all.
  • Wild Sweet Williams – Earl Grey ice cream with blackberry and dark chocolate, modeled after a bakery scone.
  • Cold Brew Coffee – Espresso-based and beautifully balanced. It’s perfect on its own or in an affogato.
  • Fruity Pebbles – Because sometimes you just need cereal in your ice cream.

And yes, those cones? They’re house-made, butter-forward masterpieces that taste like golden, crispy perfection.

A Boutique Business Model with Big Dreams

Despite their early success, Honeybean is still in growth mode. Their pricing reflects a commitment to accessibility: $4.50 for a scoop, $5.50 with a cone, and $10 for a flight of six flavors. That last option has become a favorite among families, dates, and indecisive ice cream lovers who want to sample everything.

The long-term vision is even bigger. “Our goal is to move toward a brewery-style model,” Hunter explained. “We want to open a central creamery where we do our production, retail pints, scoop to the public, and wholesale to restaurants and ice cream shops across the region.”

They’ve already begun supplying restaurants like The Big Lieutenant in Fayetteville, and custom flavor collaborations with weddings and events are becoming a mainstay of their business.

Scaling with Heart

Growth hasn’t come without challenges. Hunter is careful about maintaining quality and brand integrity. “We’re in that phase where we want to have our hands on everything,” he said. “But we’re also onboarding help and starting to take on two events in one day.”

His advice to fellow entrepreneurs? Say yes and figure it out. That mindset has allowed them to scale while preserving the personal touches that make Honeybean special like being present at the truck, interacting with customers, and always encouraging free samples.

The Bentonville Sweet Spot

There’s something uniquely Bentonville about Honeybean’s story. It’s local, handcrafted, community-driven, and built on hard work and family values. It’s a place where you can get a taste of homemade cookie dough, real strawberries, and high-quality vanilla bean ice cream, all while chatting with the people who made it.

They’re not just selling scoops; they’re crafting memories, telling stories, and laying the groundwork for what could easily become a regional staple.

Whether you’re craving a classic vanilla with local honey or want to dive into a flight of six creative flavors, Honeybean delivers something far more meaningful than dessert. It’s a reminder that good food, when crafted with passion and care, brings people together in the sweetest way possible.