Freezer wars: Summer sales will test strength of Blue Bell's comeback

[TexasTowelie]

Blue Bell, the iconic Texas ice cream brand that sat out last summer as it wrestled with invisible microbes, is still feeling the heat.

For the first time since production launched in tiny Brenham in 1907, the ice cream with an almost cult-like following, was not available to satisfy cravings during the busy swelter season.

That absence gave competitors, including Dallas-based Dean Foods, a taste for higher sales of their own frosty offerings.

Where consumers line up this summer will be a big test of Blue Bell’s resilience.

Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/business/retail/20160615-freezer-wars-summer-sales-will-test-strength-of-blue-bell-s-comeback.ece

[font color=330099]This thread is dedicated to marble falls who insists that anything related to Blue Bell deserves its own thread.[/font]

[Sherman A1]

1. I hope

that this goes well for Blue Bell and they are able to re-establish their brand.

[TexasTowelie]

4. It will be a slow process, but they have financial backing from

Sid Bass who put up $125 million because he recognizes that Blue Bell is one of the status symbols of Texas.

[HubertHeaver]

2. Blue Bell shelf space is greatly reduced in the HEB's in the Austin area.

Likewise in the Walgreen's.

[TexasTowelie]

5. Yes, the other brands have stepped up and they will give Blue Bell

stiff competition. The HEB brand, "Creamy Sensations" is of equal quality in my opinion and it runs about 80 cents less per half gallon.

[WolverineDG]

11. I love HEB's brand

it's very good & (surprise) no listeria!

[marble falls]

3. Got my supply in the freezer now. If the new stuff's got bugs in it, I'll boil it befor eating it !

It might be my imagination, but it seems like we have a better selection in Marble Falls than in Austin.

I know we got it back before Dallas did. I drive through Brenham on 290 on my way to my mom's house in Katy. I am also cognizant of the hallowed ground I travel on when I do.

There's a half gallon of coffee flavored in the kitchen calling to me at 5:22AM right now.

Damn, life is good!

[TexasTowelie]

6. Well, you are set then

and since you are recuperating it is probably one of the few things that you can enjoy at this stage. I have not had any coffee flavored ice cream in awhile so that sounds like a great treat and I'm not really a coffee person.

[marble falls]

7. Gitchyerself some. You'll be glad you did! Because I am recuperating, Joy let me have three scoops..

last nite.

Did I mention life is good?

Because of an abdominal injury I don't even remember having, I got a free liposuctioning along with the built in appendix removal benefit. It seems that the fat layer/membrain/outside of my colon had grown together and added an extra three hours to the surgery.

Gut fat was my biggest weight problem and I do not plan to fall back into it. BB will be my only diet vice.

[HubertHeaver]

10. I take it that you like cold coffee in the morning?

Cold, creamy coffee.

[Dustlawyer]

8. Grew up (and out) on the stuff, but been in a personal boycott since they came out homophobic

like Chick-fail-A (leave the autocorrect) and Hobby Lobby!

[hobbit709]

9. I quit buying Blue Bell a few years back when they started using HFCS.

Sticking with Alden's and Julie's Organic now.

[AwakeAtLast]

12. Turkey Hill took over in Indiana

I like it better. Otherwise I try to buy from local creameries.

[TexasBushwhacker]

13. They haven't been making my favorite flavors anymore

I liked Pralines and Cream, Mexican Praline and Moolenium Crunch. As others have said, the HEB store brand is very good. One of the vanillas is made with sugar instead of HCFS.The Safeway store brand at Randall's is good too.

But I tried Talenti Gelato and I don't know if I'll ever go back to regular ice cream. It's pricey, but it's so rich and flavorful that I'm satisfied with just 4 to 8 oz.