Dre’s Water Ice has grown from a humble West Philadelphia push cart into one of the city’s rising food brands, fueled by a mix of neighborhood roots, bold flavors, and expanding visibility at major events, writes Paul Schwedelson for the Philadelphia Business Journal.
Founded by Andre and Nicole Andrews in 2013, Dre’s built its reputation by serving classic Philadelphia-style water ice alongside Southern-inspired ice cream flavors such as banana pudding and strawberry shortcake, helping the company carve out a distinct identity in the region’s crowded frozen dessert market.
Over the years, the business expanded beyond street vending into food trucks, catering, festivals, and large-scale event partnerships.
Recently, Dre’s was part of the PGA Championship vendor lineup at Aronimink Golf Club, where the company served thousands of cups of water ice to spectators during one of golf’s biggest tournaments.
The exposure has introduced Dre’s to visitors from around the country, while positioning the company as a representative of Philadelphia’s food culture on a national stage.
The PGA partnership also reflected a broader opportunity ahead for Dre’s as Philadelphia prepares to host more international events tied to the FIFA World Cup and other major tourism moments.
With increasing brand recognition and a growing event presence, Dre’s is poised to continue expanding with the planned opening of a new 13,000-square-foot production facility and retail outpost in 2027.
“We’re going to be able to house a lot of our current product and our new product line, and be able to generate more business into the wholesale business, take on more clients, as well as hire more people,” Andre Andrews said.
Meanwhile, Dre’s is also expected at the upcoming Roots Picnic and FIFA Fan Festival.
Read more about how Dre’s is leveraging major venues as a launchpad for growth while staying rooted in its neighborhood origins in the Philadelphia Business Journal.
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