Cherlato promotional photo with Cher.
There is no arguing that global superstar Cher has remained front-and-center in the spotlight over the past several decades – and now, the Oscar, Emmy and Grammy winner is treating herself to a brand new business adventure, uniquely in the form of a traveling gelato truck, appropriately known as Cherlato.
Since launching the company back in late July throughout the streets of Los Angeles, California, Cherlato includes flavors that honor the 77-year-old’s legacy, including “Snap Out of It! Kefir & Cardamom” – a nod to her Academy Award-winning performance in the 1987 film Moonstruck. Other Cherlato flavors include “Cher’s Mom’s Cheesecake” and “LA, I Love You.” So, how did Cherlato initially come about for the beloved entertainer?
Cher told me, “I’ve had ice cream all over the world. There are pictures of me eating ice cream all over the world, but when I went to New Zealand and I tasted Giapo’s, I just thought, ‘Whoa, this is something different. This is really something different.’ When I walked into his ice cream parlor and I saw gold cones in a big, glass-like apothecary bottle, I forgot about the ice cream and just went to the cones.”
Cherlato flavor “Chocolate XO Cher” in a gold cone.
From there, Cher decided to team up with Giapo’s gelato artisan, Gianpaolo Grazioli, to bring these original flavors stateside, under the Cherlato name. Following such an elaborate career in both music and acting, I wondered what Cher has enjoyed most about branching out even further in her business ways lately and broadening her personal brand with projects like Cherlato.
Cher said, “Well, I love it and I believe in it, so it’s not a departure from me – it’s just an extension because of my insane love for ice cream, since I was a little kid and the Good Humor man came up our street. Of course, it cost 15 cents – it was amazing. I just like ice cream. I don’t know – you either like ice cream or you don’t. It’s one of my favorite desserts.”
“Breakfast at Cher’s Coffee & Donuts” Cherlato flavor.
She went on to share with me that her taste in ice cream really has not changed over time, with some of her favorite flavors being chocolate, chocolate chip and pistachio. The “Believe” and “If I Could Turn Back Time” singer also prides herself on the fact that Cherlato’s “Breakfast at Cher’s Coffee & Donuts” menu option was her idea.
Over the past couple of months, the Cherlato truck has been traveling around various Los Angeles neighborhoods, with its schedule being regularly shared with the public on the Cherlato website and its social media channels. So, does Cher and her Cherlato team have plans to bring these creations to other cities or perhaps storefronts anytime soon?
The Cherlato gelato truck in Santa Monica, California.
Cher said, “Well, we’re thinking about doing some pop-ups. I mean, [Los Angeles] is my hometown, so this is where I knew the people and I knew the areas that I thought they would really enjoy it. These are areas that I know people will gravitate to me and just be interested to try it.”
With her career continuing onward across various industries today, I asked Cher if she is noticing her mentality and priorities towards business being different today, compared to the business dealings she had early on in your career.
She responded with a laugh, “I don’t know anything about business. I just don’t, but I wanted to do ice cream. I wanted to have an ice cream company, and I love it! Who knows what’s going to happen? It was a labor of love and I wanted to do it, and I did it.”
Cher went on to tell me that she thinks it’s luck that has been the key to her longevity and success throughout her life and career. She then made it a point to mention to me her recently announced Christmas album titled “Cher Christmas,” a first for the longtime music artist, which will be released on October 20.
The upcoming “Cher Christmas” album. Available October 20, 2023.
“It’s so great and you got to get it,” Cher said. “My Christmas album is so unbelievable! Except don’t expect ‘Silent Night’ – it’s a radical Christmas album and I have unbelievable people on it.”
Collaborators on Cher’s upcoming Christmas album include Stevie Wonder, Darlene Love, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Bublé and Tyga.
As I began to conclude my conversation with Cher, I was curious what she would like to say to her loyal fans around the world, people who continue to support and celebrate everything she does, and are eager to try her new Cherlato creations.
Cher said, “Well, I mean, how can you not be grateful to people who stuck by you or who are interested in you and think you’re talented? I can’t say anything but thank you and I’m glad that you stayed with me – and if you grew up with me, you must be really old.”
