Mr. Green Tea is a second-generation gourmet ice cream company that got its start in Keyport, NJ, a half-century ago. Primarily selling wholesale to Asian restaurants, flavors include the kind of gourmet ice cream found in upscale Japanese restaurants like green tea, red bean, and ginger. Santo Emanuele began Mr. Green Tea in 1968 with his eldest son, Richard. After Santo passed away, Richard took over the business and enlisted his son, Michael, to help. Richard and Michael had generated $2.5 million in Mr. Green Tea sales the previous year but were struggling with making plans for the future of the company. Michael wanted to take the company to new heights, while Richard wanted to play it safe to keep…
