Members of the Maine Senate delegation gather in Senator Angus King’s congressional office for an ice cream social.
Washington, DC—July 21, 2014 —Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream, award-winning ice cream from a small town in Maine, delivered its vintage-made ice cream today to the nation’s capital, as part of an expansion into Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Senator Susan Collins, Senator Angus King, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and Congressman Mike Michaud showed unanimous support – in the nation’s thorny political epicenter – for Maine’s delicious, award-winning ice cream.
Pictured in photo (l to r) Angus King, JC Gifford, Lindsay Gifford-Skilling, Samantha Gifford and Susan Collins.
Members of the Maine delegation, their staff and interns were invited to Senator Angus King’s Congressional Office for a friendly Ice Cream Social and to lend support for the Gifford’s Good Times Ice Cream Tour.
“I am honored that distinguished members of the United States Congress—and their wonderful staff—were able to pause from the important work of government and enjoy some Maine-made ice cream,” said Gifford’s General Manager Lindsay Gifford-Skilling. “We want everyone in the DC area to know that ice cream is good politics, whether you’re a Republican, a Democrat or an Independent.”
Senator Susan Collins went to bat for the fifth generation Maine ice cream company with the following statement: “Summer and ice cream are meant to go together, and I am delighted that people in the nation’s capital will soon get to enjoy the great Gifford’s flavors that Mainers have loved for decades. Perhaps it will even help melt some of the partisan gridlock!” said U.S. Senator Susan Collins. “Gifford’s is a small, family business and a Maine success story. I applaud the company’s expansion into the Mid-Atlantic region, and wish the Gifford family and their dedicated employees much success.”
Senator Angus King added his enthusiasm too: “I’m delighted to welcome Gifford’s Ice Cream to the nation’s capital. The delicious and refreshing taste of Maine is undoubtedly something that even the most ardent Washington partisan can rally around.”
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree was equally enthusiastic. “I’m delighted that my friends and colleagues in Washington are going to be able to enjoy Moose Tracks, my personal favorite, and all the other Gifford’s flavors,” she said. “Gifford’s ice cream is great on a warm summer day in Maine and I bet it will be an even bigger treat in the sweltering heat of Washington, DC.”
Congressman Mike Michaud had his own words of encouragement. “I’m excited that Gifford’s is bringing their world-class ice cream down to Washington, DC – I can tell you it will be a treat for us all to enjoy, especially in DC’s hot and humid summers! It’s also a success story for Maine small businesses that start in our local communities, employ talented and dedicated Mainers, and develop a market that ultimately expands well beyond our state.”
Gifford’s colorful state-of-the art ice cream truck, equipped with freezers and loads of award-winning ice cream is handing out free samples at more than 70 locations throughout DC this summer. The Gifford’s Good Times Ice Cream Tour kicked off on June 29 at the L.L.Bean Tysons Corner store in McLean, Va., and later that day at Whole Foods Market on P-Street in downtown DC. It has also visited National Public Radio, The Washington Post, U.S. News and World Report, and other major news outlets. On July 19 Gifford’s participated in the fourth annual “DC Scoop,” and is making daily stops to businesses, nonprofits and government agencies.
Gifford’s General Manager Lindsay Gifford-Skilling and her brother Vice President of Sales JC Gifford have been busy delivering samples of ice cream and talking about what it’s like to grow up in a fifth-generation ice cream family from Skowhegan, Maine. The company hit its highest sales record ever in June and is on track to surpass a previous record of 1.7 million gallons of ice cream, made annually from a small yellow clapboard factory in Skowhegan, Maine, population 8,000.
Gifford’s was recently introduced to customers at Whole Foods Market, Balducci’s, Wawa, and other fine grocery stores throughout the Washington DC area. The expansion into greater DC follows the company’s 2011 acquisition of Maryland-based Gifford’s Ice Cream & Candy Co., which had operated for generations.
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