TOP 100 MAGAZINE

Kyle Kornfeld
President & CEO, Quick and Pure Ice Systems

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A Leader on the Front Lines

 

When Kyle Kornfeld describes his leadership style, he doesn’t talk about titles or hierarchy. He talks about rolling up his sleeves, and working side by side in the trenches with his team. A career veteran of several manufacturing industries, Kyle has built his success on robust product solutions, strategic growth models, and an unwavering commitment to customer service. “I’m not a top-down leader,” he explains. “I simply strive every day to remain humble and serve. My role is to articulate the vision and drive the organization forward by equipping the team with the skills and support to execute duties effectively in pursuit of that vision. Execution is what matters. This story is not about me and shouldn’t be. It is about the people at Quick and Pure and other companies, as they deserve all the praise, credit and attention.”

 

That philosophy has served him well in each of his leadership endeavors, including his own bootstrapped startup surpassing well into the seven figures in its first year from launch and beyond, setting the stage for him and his team to grow Quick and Pure Ice Systems into the most disruptive player in the $6 billion packaged ice industry. He specializes in strategic growth, operational excellence, team building, production, R&D, sales, and AI-driven innovation. Today, he’s leading a mission to transform the way retailers and consumers think about bagged ice.

 

A Career Built on Growth and Innovation

 

Kyle’s path to Quick and Pure wasn’t linear. He began in operations, honing skills in manufacturing and process improvement, project management, and R&D. That grounding shaped his ability to approach sales differently, understanding not just the product, but the people, processes, and efficiencies behind it.

 

Later in his career, developing sales skills, Kyle began mapping out his own unique strategic sales model driven entirely on the front end by modern technology. Applying what worked, discarding what did not and documenting viability along the way. Years later, once refined, he decided to bet on himself and invested his own money to turn the model into an AI-driven sales tool— before artificial intelligence became the buzzword it is today. Leveraging technology to scale the human element.

 

Then, in 2022, through long-time friends and colleagues he learned about Quick and Pure. They needed someone with grit, growth and strategic sales expertise to bring structure and vision to a late-stage startup that was on the verge of something big. The concept intrigued him. “I’ve always been drawn to disruptive, innovative manufactured products,” he says. Once he saw Quick and Pure’s potential, he was hooked.

 

Reinventing a Century-Old Industry

 

Quick and Pure Ice Systems, established in May 2021, was born out of a simple but powerful innovation: there had to be a better way to deliver bagged ice to the world. For decades, ice deliveries were it, yet that model is inefficient, costly, and increasingly strained by rising fuel and labor expenses. Quick and Pure changed that with a patented, fully automated enclosed modular system that produces and dispenses fresh, sealed, 10-pound bags of ice directly in-store. Quick and Pure Ice Systems boasts an impressive line of standard configurations that are designed to meet any demand. Additionally, embracing future innovation through R&D, the team recently debuted a future generation machine to further solve the needs of the industry. Smaller, smarter and scalable, offering the opportunity to help more retailers than ever before.

 

The machines, assembled and quality-tested in Phoenix, are ANSI 12/NSF certified—the gold standard certification achievable in retail food equipment. Sanitation, safety, and quality are at the core of the company’s promise. “We’re not delivering just ice, but an impeccable product solution and unmatched customer experience,” the team says. By 2023 and 2024, the company had exponentially grown its fleet 10X, expanding across 11 states to meet soaring demand from convenience store owners eager for a solution to their summer ice dilemma.

 

Why Retailers Say ‘Yes’

 

Quick and Pure’s model is as revolutionary for retailers as it is for consumers. The Quick and Pure team installs machines in stores with no upfront cost. Owners simply purchase reloadable ice bags on a roll, at a lower per-unit price than traditional deliveries, allowing retailers more room for margin gain and shrinkage elimination. “Stores are creating and capturing profits immediately, with no cost of capital to burden the economics; The Razor/Razor Blade Consumption Model,” Quick and Pure explains. Because the ice never leaves the machine until purchased, it remains untouched, sealed, and sanitary—an important distinction in the post-COVID era.

 

Quick and Pure impressively produces a bag for less cost per pound than the competition, while also saving the retailer utility costs through energy saving components. No trucking, no warehouses, no overhead. Thanks to AI-enabled remote monitoring, the company provides 24-hour service and support for diagnostics, troubleshooting, and fast serviceability.

 

Building a Mission-Driven Team

 

Behind the technology is a lean and powerful team of local and remote people, each playing a vital role. “Every person here and in the field is fundamentally critical to the mission,” Kyle says. Employees arrive early, stay late, and approach their work with visible excitement. For Kyle, that passion is the best part of the job. “Seeing our people energized and passionate helping store owners or managers, seeing them light up when they realize how much easier their lives just became—that’s what keeps me going.”

 

The team’s grit and ingenuity have fueled the constant innovation and growth year over year. From production and R&D to quality and reliability, to customer service and support, Quick and Pure’s culture embodies Kyle’s belief in servant leadership. “How can we be of service today,” they ask each morning— depicted with a mural on the plant floor reading “Those who make a difference,” signed by each team member underneath. He empowers his people with direction and autonomy, fostering growth through mentorship, and models resilience by being right there in the trenches. He says, “It’s about us, together, building something long lasting that matters.”

 

The Road Ahead

 

Quick and Pure is a movement. For retailers, it represents strong economics, consistency, and peace of mind. For consumers, it’s a convenient and safe premium product. For Kyle and his team, it’s proof that a small, passionate group can disrupt a multibillion-dollar industry dominated by giants.

 

As the company scales, the team remains focused on both growth and impact. “We’re helping retailers own one of their categories in a profitable, sustainable way, while also being environmentally conscious,” they note. “We’re working every day to bring this product to the world…. and having fun while doing so!”

 

 

Kyle Kornfeld
President and CEO
Quick and Pure Ice Systems
Website: www.quickandpure.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/quick-pure-ice-systems/?viewAsMember=true