Spring Equinox – Gifford’s Opens Its Five Stands with Nine New Flavors

Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream Sets Equinox as Opening Day for its Five Maine Stands and Releases a Raft of New Stand Flavors

Skowhegan and Waterville Stands to Celebrate Anniversaries

SKOWHEGAN, MAINE — March 16, 2015 — Snow may still be on the ground but it’s officially ice cream season in Maine when Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream opens its five family-owned stands on Friday, March 20, the first day of spring. The Bangor and Farmington stands will open at 11 a.m. with Auburn, Skowhegan and Waterville greeting its first customers at 12 p.m. Opening day at Gifford’s means free ice cream for customers. At each stand from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Gifford’s will treat customers to a free small (2 scoop) cone. From opening day to April 5, Gifford’s will offer a small (2 scoop) cone of any new flavor for only $1.99.

“After such a cold and snowy winter, we are especially excited to open our stands and celebrate spring with our customers, ” said Lindsay Gifford-Skilling, fifth generation ice cream maker and general manager of Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream. “The opening of our stands marks the beginning of ice cream season in Maine and the knowledge that the warm days of summer are ahead.”

Not only does the first day of spring mark the beginning of ice cream stand season in Maine, it also marks the 35th and 25th anniversary of two famous Gifford’s stands. In 1980, Gifford’s opened its very first ice cream stand in its hometown of Skowhegan. A decade later, it opened the Waterville stand. This year, as Skowhegan celebrates its 35th year in business and as Waterville celebrates its 25th, the company will roll out a series of special events, surprise promotions, and specials at all five of its ice cream stands across Maine.

Among the surprises is an exciting batch of nine new stand flavors including: Blueberry Pancake, Cherry Blossom, Cookie Dough Coffee Break, Double Chocolate Almond, Mississippi Mud Pie, Rocky Road, Strawberry Frozen Yogurt, Coffee Heathbar Crunch Frozen Yogurt and Strawberry Lemonade Sorbet. On opening day, customers will be able to enjoy six of the new flavors and can expect the arrival of Cherry Blossom, Rocky Road and Strawberry Lemonade in the next two months. Additionally, the new stand flavors will be available in restaurants and other food service accounts where Gifford’s is sold.

“We can’t wait to share these yummy new flavors with our devoted stand fans,” said Gifford-Skilling. “Some of the concepts were suggested by customers, while others came from family members and staff – but whatever the inspiration, each new flavor has been slow-churned to perfection right here in Skowhegan,” she said.

In addition to its new flavors, Gifford’s is introducing two new toppings this season – a salted caramel sauce and gummy bears. According to Gifford’s, sprinkles remain the most popular topping with rainbow sprinkles edging out chocolate by 12 percent. Hot fudge is the number one sundae topping followed by peanut butter, caramel and strawberry sauces.

Gifford-Skilling noted that along with the new flavors, new toppings, special events, and promotions, the stands will continue the tradition of offering a weekly featured flavor and sundae at discounted prices. To stay up to date on all of the special promotions, follow Gifford’s on Facebook.

Each season, Gifford’s dishes up more than 1 million ice cream cones from its five stands and this year will offer more than 55 unique and delicious flavors. These popular stands are part of the fabric of small-town Maine, with families coming year after year to celebrate such traditions as opening day, birthday parties, after-game festivities and many other special occasions.

Gifford’s will continue to feature its World’s Best Chocolate, which last October – and for the fifth consecutive year – was named Grand Champion at the World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest. The stands are also popular for their old-fashioned ice cream sodas, brownie & cream sundaes, banana splits, sundaes, parfaits and frappes. Waffle cones are made and hand dipped at each location every day. And for the dog lover, Gifford’s offers its Doggie Treat Sundae.

Gifford’s stands will be open daily through October. Hours of operation and directions for each stand can be found at www.giffordsicecream.com.

About Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream
Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream, world-class ice cream from a small town in Maine, is a fifth-generation, family-owned company that sources its fresh milk and cream exclusively from independent family farms, and uses antique Cherry Burrell freezers to slow churn the most delicious, creamiest ice cream possible. The company has earned numerous international and national “First Place” and “World’s Best” awards for its premium ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sherbet. Gifford’s sells its ice cream from Maine to Virginia and in select states as far west as Illinois. In Maine, Gifford’s has five famous ice cream stands. For more information visit www.giffordsicecream.com. Follow Gifford’s Ice Cream on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.