Ice Cream Reporter

Browse past and current articles from this publication.

Cold Stone Tim Horton combo tackle Manhattan.
Cold Stone Creamery is extending its co-branding campaign with the popular Canadian coffee-and-doughnut shop chain Tim Hortons to New York City. Three of the existing Cold Stone shops in Manhattan w . . .

Golden Spoon enters Philippines.
Golden Spoon, through its Golden Spoon Franchising arm, has announced the signing of an agreement with Unilogix Inc. to develop the Golden Spoon franchise throughout the Philippines, opening at leas . . .

Red Mango signs master license deal with Sodexo.
Red Mango has announced the signing of a master license agreement with Sodexo, Inc., one of the largest outsourcing services companies in the world, specializing in integrated facilities management . . .

Baskin-Robbins expanding in Middle East.
Baskin-Robbins, together with Galadari Ice Cream Company, its exclusive licensee in the Gulf region, expects to open 25 new parlors by the end of this year and another 25 by the end of next June, ac . . .

Blue Bell courts Florida Hispanics.
In honor of National Ice Cream Month, Blue Bell Ice Cream has introduced a new flavor called Cafe con Leche. Blue Bell describes the flavor as "a smooth coffee ice cream with a rich, sweet flavor in . . .

Dippin' Dots offers internet gift cards.
Dippin' Dots reports that it will launch an online gift card program this summer, which will allow consumers everywhere to order Dippin' Dots gift cards online that can be sent to recipients via e-m . . .

Jolly Llama offers squeezable sorbets.
Jolly Llama, a new manufacturer of superpremium frozen novelties has introduced Jolly Llama Squeezable Whole Fruit Sorbets, a line of individually-packaged squeeze tube sorbets in four flavors-blueb . . .

Mintel.(Last Licks)
According to new consumer research from Mintel, 89 percent of Americans ate packaged ice cream in the past year. In comparison, 59 percent ate novelties such as ice cream sandwiches or bars. Less th . . .

Harris Interactive.(Last Licks)
An online poll by Harris Interactive of 2,177 U.S. adults found that 27 percent of the respondents said chocolate is their favorite flavor while 22% each say vanilla and cookie dough/cookies and cre . . .

Datamonitor.(Last Licks)
A new report from the research firm Datamonitor identifies sustainable packaging as a growing consumer issue, revealing that, although sustainable packaging is not yet a primary motivator of purchas . . .

Utica, OH, which has unofficially been the state's Ice Cream Capital, may become the official capital.(Last Licks)
Utica, OH, which has unofficially been the state's Ice Cream Capital, may become the official capital. The Ohio House of Representatives recently introduced a resolution that would give the village . . .

In celebration of National Ice Cream Month, Starbucks planned to give away 280,000 free pints of its superpremium ice cream via
In celebration of National Ice Cream Month, Starbucks planned to give away 280,000 free pints of its superpremium ice cream via the Facebook social network. Over a two-week period, from July 6-19, 2 . . .

Ben & Jerry's.(Last Licks)
Ben & Jerry's offers a summer promotion aimed at making consumers feel less bad that the weekend is over. The Vermont-based superpremium frozen dessert maker will give customers at its scoop shops w . . .

NexCen Brands has announced the launch of its NexCen Franchise Portal, a new website that offers a unique venue to prospective e
NexCen Brands has announced the launch of its NexCen Franchise Portal, a new website that offers a unique venue to prospective entrepreneurs interested in securing a franchise opportunity with one o . . .

NexCen Brands also announced the opening of the 50th Marble Slab Creamery franchised store in Canada.(Last Licks)
NexCen Brands also announced the opening of the 50th Marble Slab Creamery franchised store in Canada. The store opened under an existing master franchise agreement with master developer Cam Inglis, . . .

NexCen Franchise Management, Inc.(Last Licks)
In addition, NexCen announced the promotion of David McDougall to Senior Vice President of QSR Operations for its franchising subsidiary NexCen Franchise Management, Inc. McDougall will be responsib . . .

Four Seas Ice Cream.(Last Licks)
Four Seas Ice Cream in Centerville, MA, famed for superpremium ice cream and celebrity visits including "every single one of the Kennedy family," celebrates its 75th anniversary this summer. The Cap . . .

Izzy's Yogurt and Ice Cream Shop.(Last Licks)
Another New England shop celebrating a significant anniversary this year is Izzy's Yogurt and Ice Cream Shop, which was founded 20 years ago this month, by Beth Gilbert who still operates the shop. . . .

Sprinkles.(Last Licks)
The 21st century frozen yogurt craze continues to grow. The Philadelphia Business Journal notes the creation of Sprinkles, a four-unit chain whose founders, brother and sister Matt and Ryan Mealey, . . .

YoCream International reports the introduction of YoCream High Culture Frozen Yogurt, described as "the first soft-serve frozen
YoCream International reports the introduction of YoCream High Culture Frozen Yogurt, described as "the first soft-serve frozen yogurt with beneficial probiotics clinically proven to strengthen the . . .

Red Mango.(Last Licks)
In addition to its master license agreement with Sodexo, frozen yogurt chain Red Mango has announced the opening of its first shop in Arizona, in the city of Scottsdale. In addition, Red Mango repor . . .

Red Mango was also making news as one of the five winners of the 15th annual Hot Concepts! Awards from Nation's Restaurant News.
Red Mango was also making news as one of the five winners of the 15th annual Hot Concepts! Awards from Nation's Restaurant News. Each year NRN selected what it considers to be the five most innovati . . .

Tasti D-Lite.(Last Licks)
Roughly a year after Tasti D-Lite moved its headquarters from New York to Nashville, TN the company is opening its first shop in that city. In addition, the company, which makes a low calorie frozen . . .

The National Association of Specialty Food Trade (NASFT) awarded the 2009 sofi Gold award to Ciao Bella for its Key Lime Graham
The National Association of Specialty Food Trade (NASFT) awarded the 2009 sofi Gold award to Ciao Bella for its Key Lime Graham Cracker Gelato. Recognized in the Perishable Foodservice Product categ . . .

The frozen yogurt franchise Spoon Me has been named to the Utah Entrepreneurial Forum's (UVEF) annual "Top 25 Under Five.".(Last
The frozen yogurt franchise Spoon Me has been named to the Utah Entrepreneurial Forum's (UVEF) annual "Top 25 Under Five." Spoon Me ranked 20 among the other 25 emerging Utah companies and was the o . . .

Second plant closing for Unilever in three months.
Unilever has announced that it will be closing its ice cream manufacturing plant in Hagerstown, Maryland which manufactures Klondike, Popsicle, and Good Humor novelty ice cream, as well as Ben & Jer . . .

Rita's at 25 accelerates growth.
Rita's Italian Ice, the nation's largest Italian ice concept with more than 550 stores in 18 states, is celebrating its 25h years in business with accelerated expansion. It has announced its first d . . .

Dreyer's targets Hispanics with Nestle Delicias.
Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream has introduced Nestle Delicias Paletas and Helados, a new line of scoopable frozen dairy dessert and refreshing fruit bars that targets Hispanic consumers. According to the . . .

Haagen-dazs puts focus on franchise growth.
Reports from Haagen-Dazs indicate that the company is putting new focus on growing its shop business. Although best known for its packaged superpremium frozen desserts sold through supermarkets, gro . . .

Cold Stone offers JELL-O pudding ice cream.
Cold Stone Creamery has introduced a line of JELL-O pudding ice cream, which the company reports "not only taste like pudding, but also mimic the characteristics and texture that is recognized as JE . . .

Jamba Juice licenses frozen novelties.
Jamba Juice, the popular healthy beverage franchise company, has announced a licensing agreement with Oregon Ice Cream as part of recently announced "BLEND" revitalization plan. The licensing agreem . . .

Gluten-free ice cream sandwich cookies are offered.
One of the fastest developing categories in the food world is gluten-free products. Many companies have created foods devoid of wheat and other grain ingredients that contain gluten which is harmful . . .

Marble Slab offers top chef sundaes.
As part of its rebranding effort, Marble Slab Creamery has created a Celebrity Sundaes program. Through the program, the chain this summer is reconnecting with its chef-driven roots with the help of . . .

Mintel.(Last Licks)
A newly-published report from Mintel cites the varying ice cream preferences of men and women. According to the Chicago-based market research firm, seven in 10 men prefer plain ice cream flavors, su . . .

DFA deals National Dairy to Grupo Lala.
U.S. dairy cooperative Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. (DFA) has announced that it is selling its National Dairy subsidiary to Mexican dairy giant Grupo Lala. The purchase expands Lala's presence in . . .

Change of leadership at Dreyer's.
Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream has announced that Mike Mitchell has been appointed its new President and Chief Executive Officer. Mitchell replaces Timothy F. Kahn, 54, who will retire. Mitchell, 49, come . . .

Fonterra leaves Australian ice cream market.
New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra has announced that it has signed binding agreements with both Nestle Australia and Regal Cream Products (Bulla Dairy Foods) to sell its Australian ice cream business . . .

Marble Slab in rebranding move.
NexCen Brands has announced that it will be repositioning its Marble Slab Creamery brand to better reflect "its gourmet ice cream artistry experience" and reconnect with its "chef-driven roots." The . . .

Pinkberry going international, Red Mango going to Dallas.
Frozen yogurt chain rivals Pinkberry and Red Mango are both on the move, though their journeys are of different lengths. Pinkberry has announced new national and international expansion agreements, . . .

Cold Stone extending co-branding with Rocky Mountain.
Cold Stone Creamery and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory have announced that they will be extending their co-branding agreement, begun on a trial basis last October. Under a revised agreement, the c . . .

YoCream strengthens international operation.
YOCREAM International, a pioneer and leading producer of frozen yogurt, reports that it is strengthening its international business with new distribution partners in Japan and Taiwan. The company ha . . .

Technomic.(Last Licks)
No surprise that economic news for the food industry contains gloom and doom. The latest consumer sentiment survey by food industry research firm Technomic reveals that consumers continue to remain . . .

Mintel.(Last Licks)
In addition to the negative report from Technomic, there's new data from the Mintel Global New Products Database (GNDP) that shows total food and drink product launches have been cut in half since l . . .

On a positive note, a recent national survey by Harris Interactive on behalf of Dairy Queen revealed that almost half of U.S. ad
On a positive note, a recent national survey by Harris Interactive on behalf of Dairy Queen revealed that almost half of U.S. adults (46%) are eating out at restaurants about the same or more as the . . .

Red Mango offers buy back program.
As part of an overall effort to expand its franchising program, Red Mango, the high end frozen yogurt chain, is offering a unique buy back program, reminiscent of the customer support programs being . . .

Cold Stone to enter Caribbean market.
Cold Stone Creamery has reached an agreement with Sundaes Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Flavorite Foods Ltd., to open up to 14 stores in the Caribbean over the next five years. More specific . . .

Haagen-Dazs adopts Pollan's "five ingredients" rule.
Following the advice of food authority Michael Pollan, Haagen-Dazs has introduced Five, an ice cream line made from only five ingredients. Pollan, author of the highly popular books "The Omnivore's . . .

Unilever to close Massachusetts Breyers plant.
Unilever has announced that it will be closing its manufacturing plant in Framingham, Massachusetts. Production from the plant, which manufactures produces a reported 25 million gallons per year of . . .

Starbucks back as superpremium.
Following the transition of licensing rights from Nestle/Dreyer's Unilever, the Starbucks ice cream brand is back as a superpremium line. As a Dreyer's partner brand, Starbucks had been a premium br . . .

Turkey Hill gets ready for summer.
Turkey Hill Dairy is getting ready for the 2009 summer season with a host of new products and new flavors. Topping the list is the launch of a new line of ice cream cakes. The cakes will initially b . . .