Shain's of Maine has been serving its community for generations. Now, the family-run ice cream shop is using Lakanto to put a new spin on a local favorite.
There’s something special about the neighborhood places that become part of a community.
For generations of families in Sanford, Maine, Shain’s of Maine is one of those places. What started as a small family farm eventually became a local destination for homemade ice cream, familiar faces and plenty of sweet memories.
This fall, Shain’s is trying something new: a limited-time High-Protein Brownie Batter Ice Cream made with Lakanto Classic Monk Fruit Sweetener, created in collaboration with longtime customer and fitness content creator Eli of Fitness Product Finder.
It’s a new kind of scoop for Shain’s, but one made with the same commitment to quality that has been there from the beginning.
A Local Maine Favorite Since the 1980s
The Shain’s story actually begins before the ice cream.
In the 1960s, Rodney and Barbara Shain moved to Sanford, Maine, and started a small family farm. A roadside stand selling extra produce from their garden grew over the years, eventually leading the family to open its first seasonal ice cream shop in 1980 and Shain’s Family Restaurant in 1984.
Today, the family has turned its focus to the ice cream parlor, but the heart of the business remains much the same: creating an affordable, welcoming experience rooted in community and quality.
And while plenty of customers come back for the nostalgia, Shain’s believes it's the quality of the ice cream that keeps generations returning.
So, How Did Lakanto End Up in a Maine Ice Cream Shop?
That story starts with a longtime Shain’s customer.
Eli of Fitness Product Finder and his family have been visiting Shain’s for more than a decade. At the same time, Shain’s had become familiar with Eli's content, including the high-protein Ninja Creami recipes he creates and shares with his community.
Eventually, the connection clicked.
Shain’s approached Eli about taking his high-protein, lower-calorie style of ice cream and seeing what they could create together on a professional scale.
Lakanto became a natural part of the recipe. Eli was already familiar with and an advocate for Lakanto products, so the team incorporated Lakanto as they began developing the new flavor.
Bringing Brownie Batter to the Scoop Shop
When the team started talking flavors, one idea kept rising to the top: Brownie Batter.
Inspired by one of Eli's popular creations, the goal was to capture everything people love about brownie batter, from the rich chocolate flavor to that fudgy, indulgent experience, while creating a high-protein ice cream that could be made in Shain’s professional batch machines.
It wasn't as simple as swapping one ingredient and calling it done.
Shain’s traditional ice cream base didn't deliver the nutritional profile the team was looking for, so they went back to the drawing board. The team researched, tested and adjusted different combinations until they landed on a custom recipe that brought together Shain’s approach to premium ice cream, Eli's macro-minded inspiration and Lakanto.
No Shortcuts. Just Really Good Ice Cream.
Even while developing something different from its traditional ice cream, Shain’s had one non-negotiable: it still had to taste like the real thing.
Real cream and real vanilla remained part of the equation. Rather than stripping down the ingredients simply to reach a particular protein or calorie target, the team worked to make those targets fit around the quality of the ice cream.
That philosophy feels right at home with Lakanto.
We believe reducing sugar shouldn't mean saying goodbye to the foods you love. It's about finding ways to keep sweetness, flavor and the experiences that come along with them on the table.
In this case, quite literally, in the ice cream scoop.
Made for More Than the Macro Crowd
While the idea started with creating a high-protein, lower-calorie option, Shain’s doesn't want this flavor to be something only fitness enthusiasts order.
They want ice cream lovers to order it.
The goal is for someone to take a bite without feeling like they're settling for an alternative. Shain’s hopes the experience stands right alongside the premium ice cream customers already know and love from the shop.
And we think that's what makes this collaboration especially sweet.
A family-run local business. A longtime customer with an idea. A little help from Lakanto. And a brand-new scoop for the community that has supported Shain’s for generations.
Try It at Shain’s of Maine
If you're near Sanford, Maine, stop by Shain’s of Maine and try the limited-time High-Protein Brownie Batter Ice Cream, created with Eli of Fitness Product Finder and made with Lakanto Classic Monk Fruit Sweetener.
You'll be visiting more than an ice cream shop. Shain’s has been family-run since the 1980s, carrying decades of tradition, community and care into every scoop.
From our sweetener to their scoop, we can't wait for you to try what Shain’s has created.