Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream Expansion To Wrap Up Just in Time for 2016 Ice Cream Season
As springtime nears, Gifford’s prepares to release two new retail flavors, embark on a centennial initiative with Acadia National Park, and announce opening day for its five Maine ice cream stands
Skowhegan, Maine—March 14, 2016 —Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream, announced today that it is on track to complete the major expansion of its Skowhegan factory; release two new ice cream flavors in support of the nationwide centennial celebration of Acadia National Park; and open its five Maine family ice cream stands, all starting in the month of March and just in time for the 2016 ice cream season.
The company’s $1.6 million, 3,810 square foot plant addition, initiated last November and on track for completion, is the most significant expansion in the 5th generation ice cream company’s 41-year history. The renovation doubles the ice cream maker’s total production capacity, allows the company to hire four full-time and six seasonal workers, and paves the way for more Maine-made ice cream, including two new retail flavors – Chocolate Brownie Crunch and I Scream for Cake, which will begin appearing on store shelves this month. In addition, Gifford’s will unveil new bulk flavors, including Strawberry Cheesecake, Sea Salt Caramel Malt, I Scream for Cake, and Bubblegum, which was voted back into production last fall by the company’s Facebook fans. These flavors will be available at Gifford’s five family-owned Maine ice cream stands, select partner stands, and in restaurants and college and universities across the country.
“Our expansion is wrapping up in the knick of time, just as we open up new sales territory in Northern Virginia, Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Ohio, and as we prepare to roll out our newest flavors,” said JC Gifford, fifth generation ice cream maker and vice president of sales. “The expansion increases our building space, allows for two large steam kettles, a new quart filler, a new shrink wrapper, and enables us to hire four full-time plant workers and six seasonal employees,” Gifford added.
Two New Flavors Will Support Acadia National Park
In March, Gifford’s will begin rolling out its two newest retail ice cream flavors bearing the Acadia National Park Centennial emblem on its quart-sized packaging. Gifford’s has pledged to donate 5 percent of this year’s proceeds from its two newest flavors to Friends of Acadia, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the park. The two new flavors that will help commemorate the centennial celebration of Acadia National Park are:
- I Scream for Cake—a cake-batter ice cream with a bite of cake, rainbow sprinkles, and blue buttercream frosting
- Chocolate Brownie Crunch—a delicious mix of fudgy brownie chunks dunked in light chocolate ice cream swirled with chocolate-coated cookie crunch.
I Scream for Cake will be available at Gifford’s five ice cream stands, in select grocery and convenience stores, and at select food service accounts where Gifford’s is sold. Chocolate Brownie Crunch will be available in select grocery and convenience stores where Gifford’s is sold.
“We’re really excited to be releasing these new flavors, two of which support one of the most spectacular places on Earth—Acadia National Park,” said Lindsay Gifford-Skilling, general manager at Gifford’s. “I Scream for Cake, is a colorful new flavor with sprinkles that we hope will intrigue younger children, and which can provide a celebratory birthday theme for Acadia’s 100-year birthday,” she said. “Our Chocolate Brownie Crunch Flavor was created to meet our customers’ endless craving for chocolate. We hope everyone will enjoy our newest flavors.”
Stands Announce Opening on Friday, March 18
To add even more excitement to the season, Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream announced that it will open its five family-owned ice cream stands on Friday, March 18, only a few days before the spring equinox and as the days lengthen toward summer. The Bangor and Farmington stands will open at 11 a.m. Auburn, Skowhegan and Waterville will open at noon. Opening day at Gifford’s means free ice cream for customers. From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at each stand, Gifford’s will treat customers to a free small (2 scoop) cone. From opening day to April 3rd Gifford’s will offer a small (2 scoop) cone of any new flavor for only $1.99.
In 2016, the Auburn Ice Cream Stand will celebrate its 10th anniversary. Details about the Auburn Stand Celebration will be released soon.
All-Time Sales Record
In August, Gifford’s reported a 12.4 percent sales increase, 10 percent above the industry average. In January, the company’s sales force began an expansion into Indiana and North Carolina, continuing last year’s push into major supermarket chains in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. The company will also make a significant push onto Cape Cod this summer hoping to share a “vacation from the every day” with families on holiday.
Company officials attribute the spike in sales to organic growth and say that in 2016 Gifford’s is on track to surpass a previous annual record of 2 million gallons sold. All of Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream is made using antique 1940s freezers in an historic yellow clapboard factory in Skowhegan, Maine. The company remains privately owned and is now being operated by 5th generation Gifford family members.
“The factory expansion is something we needed in order to grow,” said JC Gifford. “It basically allows us to operate at faster speeds, create more efficiencies, double our quart filling capacity, and accommodate the increased need for our homemade bases and ripples.”
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.
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