Gifford's Ice Cream Receives National Industry Awards, Introduces New Winter Flavors

Gifford's Ice Cream (www.giffordsicecream.com), the multi-generation, family-owned and -operated ice cream enterprise based in central Maine, has been recognized with three national industry awards for its Chocolate, Vanilla and Orange Sherbet flavors.

Gifford's Chocolate ice cream took top honors at the National Ice Cream Retailers Association, Inc. (NICRA) annual convention held this past November. The chocolate flavor earned the competition's only perfect score, based on best flavor, texture, and color. Gifford's also was honored for its classic Vanilla ice cream, which earned second place at the national competition. Submissions were judged by Dr. Ron Schmidt, a professor of dairy science at the University of Florida, Gainesville, and an independent lab which analyzes and compares ice cream entries from across the nation.

In addition, Gifford's earned "World's Best Orange Sherbet" accolades at the World Dairy Expo Championship Produce Contest, held this past October in Madison, Wisconsin. The win is notable in that the Expo event is widely viewed as the "academy awards" of the ice cream world. Gifford's earned the top prize in the new sherbet category based on Expo judges' ratings of flavor, body and texture, melting quality, color, and appearance.

"Our family and our team at Gifford's Ice Cream are honored to be recognized like this," noted John Gifford, Co-owner of Gifford's Ice Cream. "Receiving a 'stamp of approval' from our peers in the industry is so rewarding to all of us."

Gifford's Ice Cream has for decades been committed to making all of its flavors using fresh, pasteurized, growth-hormone-free milk from local Maine dairy farms. "We believe that our ingredients, our attention to detail, and our time-tested recipes are all part of what makes our ice cream and sherbet so special," said Lindsay Gifford, the Maine-based company's Vice President of Sales.

Gifford's Introduces Winter 2009 Flavors

Three Gifford's Ice Cream flavors are now hitting market shelves for the winter season: "Pink Peppermint Stick," a pink peppermint ice cream with red and green peppermint crunch; "M&M," Gifford's award-winning vanilla ice cream filled with M&Ms; and "Pistachio Nut," a pistachio-flavored ice cream filled with a generous helping of real pistachios.

"M&M" is available in the 56-oz. carton ($5.99-$6.99); the "Pistachio Nut" and "Peppermint Crunch" are available in 32-oz. packages ($3.99-$4.99). Recipes for spring and summer 2009 ice cream flavors are underway, and are expected to hit shelves this April.

The very popular ice cream, now available throughout northern New England at Hannaford locations, Shaw's Supermarkets, and Roche Bros. locations, also is offered in a growing number of family-owned supermarkets in the greater Boston and southern New England areas. Further, several hundred ice cream stands throughout New England, New York and New Jersey are serving the premium ice cream to enthusiastic customer feedback.

Gifford's Ice Cream also is served at high-profile account locations, including Bloomingdale's, Lord & Taylor, Rutgers University, Columbia University, The United Nations, and Westchester Country Club.

For further information, visit www.giffordsicecream.com.