Taylor vs Icetro Soft Serve Machines: Which Is Right for Your Business? (2026)
Taylor and Icetro are sister brands under Middleby, and TFI sells and services both. Compare models, heat treatment, self-serve vending and support to pick the right machine.
Last updated: October 22, 2026
Taylor vs Icetro is not a choice between rival companies. Both soft serve brands now belong to Middleby, which bought Taylor in 2018 and acquired Icetro in 2022, and TFI sells and services both across Ontario and Atlantic Canada. The real question is which machine fits your volume, counter and staff. Taylor is the best overall choice for high-volume and multi-location operators, with 12 models at TFI, pump-fed and heat treatment options, and a long record in quick-service restaurants. Icetro is the strongest pick for compact counters, unattended self-serve and first-time soft serve programs, with AI controls, technician-friendly design and heat treatment on select models.
Not sure which one fits? Contact TFI and our team in Ontario and Atlantic Canada will match a Taylor or Icetro model to your menu and volume, or book a demo at our Mississauga showroom.
Quick verdict: Taylor or Icetro?
Taylor wins on range, volume and standardization. Icetro wins on compact footprints and self-serve. Here is the short answer by business type:
Your business | Best fit | Models to look at |
|---|---|---|
High-volume QSR or multi-location chain | Taylor | |
Convenience store counter with steady traffic | Either | |
Café, bakery or kiosk adding a first machine | Either | |
Fewer full brush-cleans on a single flavour | Either | |
Unattended self-serve (campus, food court, c-store) | Icetro | |
Frozen yogurt or twist at volume | Taylor | Taylor C712 or Taylor C713 |
Taylor and Icetro are sister brands under Middleby, and TFI sells and services both. Choose Taylor for volume and standardization, and Icetro for compact counters and self-serve.
Are Taylor and Icetro the same company?
No, but they share a parent company. Taylor's roots trace back to 1926, and when Middleby agreed to buy Taylor in 2018 it described the company as a world leader in soft serve and ice cream dispensing equipment. Icetro is a South Korea-headquartered maker of ice, soft serve and slush machines with more than 40 years in ice machines and dispensers. Middleby acquired Icetro on June 30, 2022, and noted at the time that Icetro's soft serve technology has heat-treat pasteurization capabilities addressing food safety.
That shared ownership is why you will see the name "Icetro by Taylor." Taylor's own website lists Icetro models such as the Icetro by Taylor ISI-163TT alongside its Taylor-built machines. In Canada, TFI is the authorized supplier for both, with one sales team, one service team and one parts counter.
Taylor vs Icetro at a glance
The two brands differ most in range and specialty, not in whether they make good soft serve.
Taylor | Icetro | |
|---|---|---|
Parent company | Middleby, since 2018 | Middleby, since 2022 |
Background | Founded in 1926; headquartered in Rockton, Illinois | Headquartered in South Korea; ice, soft serve and slush machines |
Soft serve models at TFI | 12 | 10, including 2 self-serve vending machines |
Formats | Countertop and floor; one flavour or twin twist; pump or gravity feed | Countertop and floor; one flavour or two flavours plus twist; self-serve vending |
Heat treatment | Taylor C709: up to 28 days before a full brush-clean | ISI-161TH; ISI-271SHS and ISI-271THS vending: up to two weeks |
Controls | Microprocessor touch controls on models like the C709 | AI control system and LCD touch panels on many models |
Known for | Quick-service standardization and high-volume output | Technician-friendly design and compact footprints |
Parts at TFI | Tune-up kits, scraper blades and O-rings in the TFI parts shop | Through TFI's parts team |
Service at TFI | Factory-trained TFI technicians | Factory-trained TFI technicians |
Model matchups: Taylor and Icetro side by side
Every Taylor and Icetro soft serve machine TFI sells, grouped by format. Specs come from each model's page on tficanada.com; Icetro capacities are converted from gallons to quarts.
Format | Taylor at TFI | Icetro at TFI |
|---|---|---|
Countertop, one flavour | ||
Countertop, heat treatment | C709: mix safe for up to 28 days, 20 qt hopper | ISI-161TH: pasteurization that reduces cleaning cycles, 12 in wide |
Countertop, two flavours plus twist | ISI-163TT: two 6 qt hoppers, two 1.7 qt cylinders, up to 52.9 lbs an hour | |
Floor, one flavour | 8752: air/mix pump | ISI-271SHS: self-serve vending with heat treatment |
Floor, two flavours plus twist | ISI-163ST: two 6 qt hoppers. ISI-203SN: 23 in wide, belt drive, AI control. ISI-303SNA: air-cooled, two 18.8 qt hoppers. ISI-303SNW: water-cooled, up to 150 lbs an hour | |
Self-serve vending | None | ISI-271THS (countertop) and ISI-271SHS (floor): built-in cup and cone dispenser, heat treatment up to two weeks |
Two patterns stand out. Taylor offers pump-fed machines in every countertop and floor format, and air/mix pumps provide consistent overrun, which matters when a chain wants the same texture and yield at every location. Icetro covers the core countertop and floor formats and adds the one Taylor does not offer at TFI: unattended self-serve vending. For a closer look at Taylor's countertop range alone, our Taylor countertop soft serve comparison compares each model.
Where Taylor wins
Taylor is the better choice when volume, consistency across locations and the widest choice of configurations matter most.
The widest range. TFI carries 12 Taylor soft serve machines, from the compact C152 to the twin twist 8756, in pump or gravity versions.
The highest volume. The Taylor 8756 runs two air/mix pumps and two 36-quart hoppers, built for the longest rushes a quick-service kitchen sees.
The longest heat treatment interval. The Taylor C709's heat treatment cycle keeps dairy mix safe for up to 28 days before a complete disassembly and brush-clean, subject to your local food code.
A quick-service standard. Taylor's record in quick-service, casual dining, convenience and institutional foodservice makes it the default for operators standardizing one machine across many sites.
Parts on the shelf. TFI's online parts shop stocks Taylor tune-up kits, O-rings and scraper blades, and our scraper blade compatibility chart matches each blade to its model.
Taylor soft serve programs deliver 70-80% gross profit with payback within 6 to 18 months.
Where Icetro wins
Icetro is the better choice when space is tight, when guests serve themselves, or when you want modern controls on a first machine.
Compact counters. The ISI-161TI and ISI-161TH are 12 inches wide, small enough for a café counter or kiosk.
Unattended self-serve. The Icetro ice cream vending machines have a built-in cup and cone dispenser, and the ISI-271SHS offers optional coin operation, which suits convenience stores, universities and food courts.
Heat treatment in a small footprint. The ISI-161TH brings pasteurization to a mini countertop machine, and the vending models extend mix life by up to two weeks.
Smart controls. Many Icetro models use an AI control system with LCD touch panels and mix-low and mix-out sensors.
Easy to service. TFI describes Icetro as one of the most technician-friendly equipment brands on the market, with easy access and simple serviceability.
A matching slush line. Icetro also makes the SSM slush machines in one-, two- and three-tank models, so a frozen dessert and frozen drink station can run on one brand.
TFI cites the same margin range for Icetro: soft serve and slush programs typically deliver 70-80% gross profit, with payback in as little as 6 to 18 months.
What changes the price of either brand
TFI quotes both brands to your exact setup, because six choices move the price more than the brand name does:
Countertop or floor. Countertop machines are usually lower cost and easier to place; floor models carry longer rushes.
One flavour or two flavours plus twist. Twist adds variety and a second freezing cylinder.
Pump or gravity feed. Pumps control overrun and yield but add parts to clean and maintain. Our guide to gravity-fed soft serve machines explains the trade-off.
Air or water cooling. Water-cooled models like the Icetro ISI-303SNW run quietly in temperature-sensitive spaces but need a water connection.
Heat treatment. It cuts the number of full brush-cleans but adds to the purchase price.
Self-serve vending. Cup and cone dispensers and optional coin operation replace a server at the counter.
For typical ranges, see our Taylor ice cream machine prices guide and our commercial ice cream machine cost guide. You do not need to pay it all up front: TFI offers lease-to-own financing with terms from 12 to 60 months, rentals, and certified pre-owned equipment that is thoroughly cleaned, serviced and tested with a one-year parts and labour warranty. Our guide to renting or leasing a soft serve machine compares the options.
Service and parts in Ontario and Atlantic Canada
A soft serve machine only earns while it runs, and with both brands you get the same support from TFI. Our technicians are factory-trained and renew their certification every year, repairs use genuine OEM parts, and emergency service is available 24/7 through a service request. TFI Total Care bundles planned maintenance, reactive service calls and training for one monthly fee, and our soft serve machine maintenance tips cover the daily routine for either brand.
Ontario. Our Mississauga showroom supports operators in Toronto, the GTA, Hamilton, Ottawa and London, with soft serve machines on the floor for live demos.
Atlantic Canada. Our Dartmouth location supports operators in Halifax, Moncton, Saint John, Charlottetown and St. John's with the same Taylor and Icetro equipment, parts and service.
FAQs
Is Icetro made by Taylor?
No. Icetro and Taylor are separate manufacturers with the same parent company, Middleby, which bought Taylor in 2018 and Icetro in 2022. Taylor's website lists some Icetro models as "Icetro by Taylor," and in Canada TFI sells and services both brands.
Which is better, Taylor or Icetro?
Taylor is the better choice for high-volume, multi-location and pump-fed programs, with 12 models at TFI and the longest heat treatment interval on the C709. Icetro is the better choice for compact counters, self-serve vending and first machines with smart controls. Many operators decide by format: match your counter space, flavours and daily volume to the model matchup table above.
Where is Icetro from?
Icetro is headquartered in South Korea and makes ice, soft serve and slush machines for commercial foodservice. Middleby acquired the company in June 2022, and TFI is an authorized Icetro distributor in Ontario and Atlantic Canada.
Does Icetro make heat treatment soft serve machines?
Yes. The Icetro ISI-161TH countertop machine uses pasteurization to keep mix safe longer and reduce cleaning cycles, and the ISI-271SHS and ISI-271THS vending machines extend mix life by up to two weeks. Taylor's heat treatment model is the C709, which keeps mix safe for up to 28 days before a full brush-clean.
How much does an Icetro soft serve machine cost?
Icetro pricing is quote-based, because the format, flavours, cooling, heat treatment and vending features all change the number. Request a quote and TFI will price the Icetro and Taylor models that fit your volume side by side, with financing options for each.
Who services Icetro machines in Canada?
TFI services Icetro and Taylor soft serve machines across Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, with 24/7 emergency service from factory-trained technicians. Submit a service request or call 905-790-2211 or toll-free 1-800-387-2529.
Your Next Step: Narrow It to Two Models
The fastest way to settle Taylor vs Icetro is to answer three questions before you call:
How many servings do you sell in your busiest hour? A long peak points to a pump-fed Taylor like the C712 or 8756. Steadier traffic suits a countertop Taylor or Icetro.
How much space do you have? The 12-inch-wide Icetro ISI-161 models fit counters where a full-size machine will not.
Will staff serve, or will guests serve themselves? For unattended self-serve, the Icetro ISI-271 vending machines are the only option in either lineup at TFI.
As Canada's #1 Taylor distributor and an authorized Icetro distributor, TFI will take those answers, shortlist one Taylor and one Icetro model, and quote them side by side with financing options for each. Book a demo at our Mississauga showroom or talk to our Dartmouth team, and the same technicians will install and service either machine across Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Request a side-by-side quote for the two models that fit your business.
Nicole Camposeo-Cheung is the Director of Marketing, People & Culture at TFI Food Equipment Solutions, Canada’s leading provider of premium commercial foodservice equipment. She combines her expertise in business management and fashion arts to foster a dynamic, innovative, and people-centric corporate culture. Passionate about empowering teams, building strong client relationships, and driving growth through creativity and collaboration, Nicole plays a key role in shaping TFI’s brand and workplace culture. She also shares her industry expertise and insights through the TFI blog, helping foodservice professionals stay informed about the latest trends, best practices, and innovations in commercial food equipment.
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