Updated: August 16, 2026
Rebel Creamery LLC has become a familiar name for anyone seeking creamy, full-fat ice cream without the sugar crash. The Utah-based company built its reputation on low-carb, keto-friendly pints sold at major retailers like Walmart, Target, and Kroger. Behind the brand stand its co-founders and primary owners: Austin Archibald and Courtney Archibald. Their story is one of personal health frustration turned national product success, now facing a serious legal and financial test.
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The Couple Who Built a Keto Ice Cream Empire
Austin and Courtney Archibald started Rebel Creamery after adopting a ketogenic lifestyle in early 2017. They loved ice cream but hated the high-sugar, low-fat options on store shelves. Existing “healthy” versions either lacked creaminess or packed in unwanted ingredients. So the couple, living in Midway, Utah with their young children, decided to create their own.
Austin brought an MBA and experience in venture capital and analytics. Courtney came from a broadcasting background. Together they worked with food scientists to formulate a high-fat, low-net-carb ice cream sweetened without traditional sugars. In December 2017 they launched a Kickstarter campaign that raised roughly $80,000 in short order—one of the stronger results for a perishable food product at that scale. Products hit grocery freezers in 2018.
The brand’s core promise remains simple: real dairy richness without added sugar, aimed at people following low-carb or ketogenic diets who still want dessert that tastes like the real thing.
Company Snapshot and Key Details
Here is a clear overview of Rebel Creamery LLC based on the most recent public information:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Company Name | Rebel Creamery LLC |
| Co-Founders / Owners | Austin Archibald & Courtney Archibald |
| Headquarters | Midway, Utah |
| Founded | 2017 (products launched 2018) |
| Specialty | Low-carb, high-fat, keto-friendly ice cream |
| Distribution | Walmart, Target, Kroger and other major retailers |
| Recent Status | Chapter 11 bankruptcy filed August 14, 2026 |
| Assets / Liabilities | $10–50 million range (both) |
Austin Archibald signed the bankruptcy petition as Manager/Member, confirming his ongoing leadership role.
The Packaging Lawsuit That Changed Everything
Rebel Creamery’s biggest challenge arrived through the courts. Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, a New York brand known for its minimalist pastel packaging and black script lettering, sued in 2021 claiming trade dress infringement. A federal judge in the Eastern District of New York ruled in July 2026 that Rebel intentionally copied key visual elements of Van Leeuwen’s pint design.
The court ordered Rebel to redesign its packaging and disgorge approximately $23.8 million in profits from the infringing products. Rebel maintained that its founders had not seen Van Leeuwen’s packaging when developing their own design and appealed the judgment. The financial pressure proved decisive. On August 14, 2026, Rebel Creamery LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Utah. The filing lists assets and liabilities both in the $10–50 million range and triggers an automatic stay on related litigation while the company restructures.
What This Means for the Brand and Its Owners
Chapter 11 allows a business to continue operating while it reorganizes debts. For Rebel, that means the Archibalds and their team can keep producing and selling ice cream under new packaging constraints while negotiating with creditors, including the large judgment owed to Van Leeuwen.
Key points worth noting:
- The company remains privately held and relatively small (historically 1–10 employees in public profiles).
- Distribution at major national retailers gave it meaningful reach despite its size.
- The founders’ original motivation—creating a truly low-carb ice cream that still tasted indulgent—still resonates with a dedicated customer base.
- Future success will depend heavily on successful packaging redesign, cost control, and maintaining consumer trust during the restructuring process.
Austin and Courtney Archibald turned a family kitchen experiment into a nationally distributed brand. That achievement is real. The current Chapter 11 case is equally real and will test whether the company can emerge leaner and more carefully differentiated from competitors.
Conclusion
Rebel Creamery LLC is owned and led by its co-founders, Austin and Courtney Archibald. What began as a personal solution for keto-friendly dessert grew into a recognizable freezer-case presence. A costly trade-dress judgment and subsequent bankruptcy filing now force a reset. For customers who appreciate the product’s creamy texture and low-carb profile, the coming months will show whether the Archibalds can protect the brand they built while navigating one of the toughest periods in its history.