2010 World Dairy Expo Names Gifford's Ice Cream Grand Champion And Awards Business

Gifford's Ice Cream (www.giffordsicecream.com), central Maine's third-generation family ice cream business, swept the competition at the 2010 World Dairy Expo, earning not only the title of "World's Best Chocolate" for the third time, but also being recognized as "Grade A & Ice Cream Grand Champion," besting the entire Championship Dairy Product category, considered a coup in industry circles. The only international judging contest of its kind, the World Dairy Expo is considered the industry's most important dairy competition.

Gifford's has an impressive history at the competition; its Chocolate also was selected "World's Best" during the Expo competitions in 2007 and 2009. The awards will be presented to winners at this year's five-day Expo in Madison, to take place September 28 - October 2.

"Our family and our entire team at Gifford's are ecstatic about this year's wins," said Lindsay Gifford, vice president of sales and marketing. "The level and variety of competition out there is fierce, and that dynamic makes these awards mean that much more to all of us."

Held in Madison, Wis., the international, all-dairy competition attracts hundreds of competitors from across the world. Each submission is carefully reviewed by dairy science professionals in blind taste tests and judged on flavor, body and texture, melting quality, color, and appearance.
The wins at the 2010 World Dairy Expo follow significant wins at this year's New Jersey Ice Cream Festival. For the third year in a row, Gifford's Old Fashioned Vanilla flavor won First Prize in the Best Vanilla Brand competition, while Gifford's Chocolate Lovers Chocolate, which recently was featured on Food Network's popular show "Unwrapped," swept the competition in the People's Choice Brand category.
Gifford's Ice Cream remains committed to making all of its flavors using fresh, pasteurized, growth-hormone-free milk from local Maine dairy farms. Company officials recently launched an effort to eliminate High Fructose Corn Syrup from its products in response to increased consumer interest in reducing HFCS in their diets.

About Gifford's Ice Cream:
Gifford's Ice Cream sources its fresh cream and milk exclusively from independent family farms in Maine, and relies on antique 1940s Cherry Burrell freezers coupled with a state-of-the-art freezing system to achieve its award-winning, creamy texture and fresh-churned consistency. The multi-generation, family-owned company uses only the finest ingredients, from nuts, berries, and fresh fruits to premium chocolate, imported vanilla extract and pure, all-natural Maine maple syrup. Gifford's has earned numerous international and national "First Place" and "World's Best" awards for its premium ice cream and sherbet, and continues to expand its distribution and offerings.

Available throughout northern New England at Hannaford, Shaw's Supermarkets, and Roche Bros. locations, Gifford's Ice Cream also is offered in several hundred ice cream stands throughout New England, New York and New Jersey, and is served at a growing number of high-profile account locations, including Rutgers University, The BALSAMS Grand Resort Hotel in New Hampshire, Pelletiers Family Loggers Restaurant in Millinocket, Maine, the University of Connecticut and Colby College.


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