Blue Bell Returns To DFW On November 2
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BRENHAM (CBSDFW.COM) - Get your spoons ready, North Texas. Blue Bell Ice Cream announced on Thursday that the second phase of their five-phase rollout will begin on November 2, and the DFW area is included in the list of places that will see products hit the shelves on that day.
Waco, Oklahoma City and Tulsa are also among the phase two cities.
Blue Bell Ice Cream already returned to stores in Austin, Houston and the company's hometown of Brenham back in August.
"We have experienced tremendous consumer response and support since our return to stores," said vice president of sales and marketing Ricky Dickson. He added that the company is working hard to keep phase one stores stocked while they expand out to other areas.
Blue Bell's hiatus followed a listeria contamination crisis that was linked to three deaths. The company's products were pulled from store shelves and three factories were shuttered.
The phase two products are being made at the company's plants in Oklahoma and Alabama. Dickson said that the main plant in Brenham should be up and running "in the next few months." Currently, just five flavors are being produced in the pint and half-gallon sizes: Homemade Vanilla, Dutch Chocolate, The Great Divide, Cookies 'n Cream and Buttered Pecan. More flavors have been promised in the future.
There is no date set for other phases of the product rollout. "As soon as we know that we can properly service the customers in an area with an adequate supply of Blue Bell Ice Cream, we will move to the next phase," Dickson said.
"We are extremely grateful to everyone who has supported us during this time," Dickson added. "Thank you for your patience as we work to return to our markets."