Carvel’s iconic Fudgie the Whale cake has been a beloved staple for Father’s Day celebrations since 1977. The vanilla and chocolate-flavored ice cream cake was originally created as a special promotion for the holiday and quickly became a favorite among customers. Fudgie the Whale was not intended to be a mascot for the Carvel brand, but rather a delicious treat to fill the freezer cases at Carvel shops.
Founder Tom Carvel created the cake using a plastic, whale-shaped mold and topped it with fudge, one of Carvel’s most popular toppings. The process of making a Fudgie cake involves layering soft-serve vanilla and chocolate ice cream with chocolate chip cookie pieces, known as “crunchies,” before freezing it for several hours and adding hot fudge and more crunchies on top. The cakes sell for about $30 each and have become a favorite dessert for Father’s Day celebrations.
According to Carvel’s Chief Brand Officer Jim Salerno, Fudgie the Whale has helped make Father’s Day the busiest day of the year for buying cakes at Carvel. The popularity of Fudgie extends beyond Father’s Day, with the cakes being popular for birthdays and anniversaries as well. Carvel sells nearly 100,000 Fudgie cakes a year and the character has become a part of popular culture.
Despite its popularity, Carvel has faced challenges in recent years with a decrease in sales and store locations. The company is owned by Go To Foods (formerly Focus Brands) and also operates Auntie Anne’s, Jamba, and Cinnabon. Fudgie the Whale cakes evoke nostalgia for consumers, particularly those on the East Coast, and help keep Carvel top of mind for customers.
In addition to Fudgie the Whale, Carvel also offers other shaped cakes like Cookie Puss, a goofy alien character, and various sports-themed cakes. The Fudgie cake mold has been repurposed to create a Santa Claus cake for the holidays. Carvel introduced Fudgie Pops this year, which are mini Fudgie cake pops on a stick, and plans to unveil a new character cake later in the year.
Despite having the majority of its locations in New York, Fudgie the Whale’s fandom extends far and wide. The character has been featured on TV shows like Family Guy, The Office, and The Simpsons, and has made appearances at sporting events and in commercials. Fudgie the Whale’s enduring popularity and beloved status as a nostalgic treat has made him a cherished part of the Carvel brand.
