Vendor Spotlight: Samaroo Sweets

For Rachell Samaroo Henry, a love of ice cream has always been about more than simply enjoying a sweet treat. It is about flavour, quality, memories, and most importantly, bringing people together. That passion is at the heart of Samaroo Sweets, a local business established in May 2025 that specializes in handcrafted ice cream and desserts, with a particular focus on ice cream cookie sandwiches. 

Rachell’s approach to dessert is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves a sweet treat without having to sacrifice flavour or quality. As someone who grew up loving ice cream and desserts, she wanted to create treats that felt just as indulgent while taking a more natural approach to sweetness. Rachell explained, “Growing up I always loved ice cream and all desserts, but as I got older, my favorite treats began to not align with my health goals.” Today, Samaroo Sweets uses ingredients sourced from local and surrounding businesses whenever possible, including milk from Walkers Dairy Inc. and fruit from nearby farms. Honey and maple syrup sourced from farms in and around the St. Thomas area is also used as natural sweeteners in many of her ice cream recipes. 

That commitment to local ingredients is one of the things that makes Samaroo Sweets stand out. Rather than relying solely on traditional sweeteners, Rachell began incorporating local honey and maple syrup after discovering that customers were also looking for more natural ice cream options - even hand picking fruits to include in her flavours. She was thrilled to find that people enjoyed the flavours as much as she did. The result is an ice cream offering that celebrates both the ingredients themselves and the farmers and businesses behind them. 

Rachell’s inspiration for Samaroo Sweets also comes from closer to home. Her father played a special role in shaping her love of creating and sharing frozen treats. She remembers him making snow cones during the summer and using a wooden hand-churning ice cream machine to make fresh coconut ice cream. He loved sharing those treats with neighbourhood kids and family members on hot days, creating the kind of simple, joyful memories that stay with you. Today, Rachell carries that same spirit of sharing into her own business. ​

Even the name Samaroo Sweets has a personal connection. The name came together when Rachell began thinking about how she could incorporate her own name and heritage into her business. Over time, she came to appreciate even more deeply the beauty and significance of the name Samaroo and the connection it holds to her family and culture. In many ways, the business has become another way for her to share a part of herself with the community. 

Some of Samaroo Sweets’ most popular and personal favourites include the Creamy Toffee Apple Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich, Rolling in Biscoff ice cream, and the Lemon Cream Dream ice cream. Each flavour offers its own little reason to stop by the booth, whether you are looking for a familiar favourite or want to try something new. 

Rachell discovered the Horton Farmers’ Market during her first day of the 2025 Summer Company Program with the St. Thomas/Elgin Small Business Enterprise Centre. The Summer Company Program is an Ontario government initiative that provides students age 15-29 with grants, hands-on training, and local mentorship to launch and run their own summer business. It allows students returning to school to learn essential business skills and connect with business community leaders while exploring self-employment during their summer break. 

​As part of the program, the group visited the market to explore and chat with local small businesses, and Rachell was immediately drawn to the creativity, heart, and passion she saw among the vendors. More than anything, though, she noticed that the people behind the products were what made them special. ​

That feeling ultimately inspired her to become a vendor herself. Since joining Horton, the market has become an important part of her Saturdays and an opportunity to connect with the people who make the community special, “I love and enjoy meeting and connecting with people… it’s like I’m hanging out from 8am-12pm!” Rachell says she is incredibly grateful for every person who stops by her booth, asks about her business, tries her products, or simply takes a moment to connect. ​

She also credits the Horton Farmers’ Market coordinating team, including Monique Clark and Gen Kroeker, and all those involved in helping the market become what it is. Their kindness, encouragement, and support have played an important role in her experience as a vendor. Rachell explained, “everyone is a ray of sunshine, even on the cloudiest of days.” The relationships she has built with fellow vendors have become another highlight, with familiar faces and friendships giving her something to look forward to each Saturday morning. Rachell expresses her gratuity for all the friendships and connections she’s built with vendors and visitors at the Horton Farmers’ Market. 

For Rachell, entrepreneurship has also become a way to create a life that allows room for both creativity and connection. Whether she is working behind the scenes on social media, or dancing around the Innovation Kitchen while churning ice cream, she enjoys the variety that comes with running her own business. She has also learned to give herself patience and compassion when things do not go exactly as planned. She explains her appreciation for the city's initiative in local businesses, “I also really appreciate the relationship the market has with the Small Business Enterprise Centre, which gives local small businesses the opportunity to participate in such an amazing and welcoming market.” 

Her advice to other entrepreneurs is simple: “have faith in yourself, trust in the journey, and take a chance on your ideas.” Business, much like life, involves mistakes, pivots, unexpected challenges, and moments when things do not work out. As Rachell puts it, “your idea doesn’t have to be set in stone – it can be ‘set in Jell-O. Let it evolve with you and always allow your business to reflect who you are, what you value, and what you want to share with the world.” Instead of seeing those experiences as failures, Rachell believes they can become opportunities to learn and grow. She encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to think about what they want to offer the world and to build something that serves others while bringing them happiness and fulfillment. 

As Samaroo Sweets continues to grow, Rachell is excited to keep experimenting with new flavours, meeting new people, and expanding her presence throughout the community. Beyond the ice cream itself, her business is about creating moments: a refreshing treat on a summer morning, a conversation at the market, or a flavour that brings back a favorite memory. 

You can find Samaroo Sweets at the Horton Farmers’ Market on select dates. Rachell hopes to expand her market presence and explore new opportunities, so check her Instagram for regular updates and market days.

Samaroo Sweets is also participating in the upcoming Bridges to Better Business event on September 24, 2026 at the St. Anne's Centre in St. Thomas - a fun evening filled with small business award celebrations and an incredible local food showcase open to all! Tickets are available now, and they include the food showcase, small business award celebration, and two musical acts. A cash bar will also be available on-site. 

Remember: there is always something sweet at Samaroo Sweets! 

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Kate Hanslip, Summer Marketing Assistant ​

Kate is a recent social sciences graduate from Western University and currently a marketing student at Fanshawe College. Having grown up in St. Thomas, she brings a love of history and storytelling to her work where she enjoys highlighting the people, businesses, and stories that shape the community. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, exploring local trails, and experimenting in the kitchen.