Gifford's Ice Cream Announces Major Expansion, Awards, And Launch Of Fall 2008 Flavors

Gifford's Ice Cream (www.giffordsicecream.com), the award-winning, family-owned and -operated ice cream enterprise based in central Maine, has announced several new, high-profile distribution locations, expansion news in eight states, major industry awards earned, and launch of its fall 2008 ice cream flavors.

Expansion News
Gifford's has announced the recent addition of several new high-profile accounts to its continually growing list of distributing locations. The range of new accounts is impressive: in addition to Bloomingdale's, Lord & Taylor, and Rutgers and Columbia Universities, the United Nations, Westchester Country Club and New York City's Del Frisco's Steakhouse locations all have signed on to Gifford's Ice Cream's sizeable list of distributing venues.

The new locations add to the several thousand retail and ice cream stand locations already established throughout New England, New York and New Jersey which feature Gifford's. The Maine company continues to see robust growth of 7-10% - particularly notable news in today's economic climate.

Recent Recognition and Awards
This month's issue of The Griffin Report of Food Marketing names Gifford's Ice Cream to its list of "Best Places to Work in the Food Industry." The nod comes from the New England publication's major 2008 food industry survey.

"Gifford's Ice Cream was a natural fit for our 'Best Places to Work' list, for several reasons," stated Jack Walsh, Vice President at Griffin Publishing. "The team at Gifford's is viewed throughout the region as being incredibly 'worker-friendly', in terms of everything from advancement opportunities and clear communication with employees, to really living out the Gifford family's operating philosophy of respect for team members and their surrounding community."

The Griffin Report recognition follows Gifford's Ice Cream having also earned the "Gannett Family Business of the Year Award" this summer, presented in recognition of the Gifford team's business success, work environment, and active family participation in the company.

"Mainers are genuinely proud of the reputation that food products from our state have earned, particularly during the past few years," noted Maine Governor John Baldacci. "The team at Gifford's Ice Cream proves what can be accomplished when businesses pair a closely knit work environment and dedication to community with a commitment to excellence. The possibilities are great, and Gifford's provides a great case study of how this can be accomplished."

Gifford's Ice Cream's flavors and products continue to rack up culinary accolades, as well. Late this summer at the Sixth Annual New Jersey State Ice Cream Festival, Gifford's earned judges' First Place vote for its classic Vanilla ice cream. Gifford's new Maine Lobster Tracks ice cream, recently featured in The Boston Globe, also took home a top placement in the People's Choice category during the recent Ice Cream Festival.

The awards add to Gifford's growing track record of industry recognition; the Maine company also earned the coveted title of "World's Best Chocolate Ice Cream" at this year's annual World Dairy Expo - widely considered to be the "academy awards" of the ice cream world.

Gifford's Ice Cream Flavors for Fall 2008 Gifford's Ice Cream, situated in the heart of Maine farm country, also announced today its seasonal flavors for fall: Apple Pie and Pumpkin.

"Our Apple Pie ice cream is made with pure vanilla ice cream with a fresh-baked apple pie flavor rippled throughout," said Lindsay Giffor