Hudsonville Ice Cream Introduces Flavors, Expands Market

HOLLAND, MI, ay 19, 2011 (Press-News.org) Summer is right around the corner, and that means it's time for Hudsonville Creamery & Ice Cream Co. to introduce new palate-tempting flavors.

Michigan's largest manufacturer of branded ice cream is expanding its popular Limited Edition products with the addition of four new flavors that will be available in grocery stores in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois - and soon-to-be-added Wisconsin and Minnesota. Hudsonville Ice Cream is also introducing three new flavors for ice cream parlors and restaurants.

Hudsonville has enjoyed double-digit increases in each of the last three years, allowing it to expand its footprint deeper into the upper Midwest. The new spring flavors are already on store shelves, while the summer flavors will arrive in a few weeks.

A complete listing of flavors, along with descriptions, is available on Hudsonville's Web site, http://www.hudsonvilleicecream.com.

"Historically, we have offered one limited-edition flavor each season," said Bruce Kratt, director of sales for Hudsonville Ice Cream. "Last year, we experimented a bit and expanded our seasonal flavor introductions, and our customers loved it. This year, we are focusing on the Limited Edition line, which will allow us to launch new and exciting flavors that perfectly complement the change of seasons we enjoy in the Great Lakes region.

"Additionally, due to strong consumer demand, we are offering our 2010 Limited Edition flavors to ice cream parlors and restaurants this summer. Customers who enjoyed Blueberry Cobbler and Country Apple Pie at home last summer will now be able to find them at the more than 500 ice cream parlors in the six-state area that serve Hudsonville Ice Cream products.

The new Limited Edition flavors launching for spring and summer are:
• Chocolate 'n Cherry: Chocolate ice cream loaded with cherry-filled chocolate cups for spring
• Strawberry Shortcake: Perfect for spring, vanilla ice cream with a ribbon of strawberries and pieces of pound cake.
• Peach 'n Raspberry Twister: Summer flavor featuring peach ice cream and fruit with a delicious raspberry swirl.
• Red Velvet Cake: Red velvet cake ice cream with swirls of decadent cream cheese icing

Red Velvet Cake will immediately crossover to three-gallon tubs available at ice cream parlors and restaurants. Hudsonville Ice Cream will also introduce Pistachio Almond (rich pistachio ice cream with roasted almond pieces) along with Chocolate Volcano (chocolate ice cream with a decadent ribbon of chocolate ganache sprinkled with pieces of chocolate cake).

Additionally, Blueberry Cobbler and Country Apple Pie - last year's Limited Edition knockouts - will be available to ice cream parlors. Perennial summer favorite Orange Cream Swirl is migrating from the grocery store freezer to the ice cream parlor, too.

Consumers will be able to sample the new flavors for themselves on Saturday, June 10, from 4 p.m. to midnight at the Local First Street Party in downtown Grand Rapids for $1 per scoop. Proceeds will benefit Kids' Food Basket. Additionally, Hudsonville Ice Cream will mark its return to the Festival of the Arts June 3-5 in downtown Grand Rapids at the St. George's booth.

"Last summer, we had a fun party at our plant in Holland to celebrate our new flavors. But were only able to accommodate 800 of our biggest fans," Kratt said. "This year, we are taking it to the streets to let 10,000 or more West Michigan residents sample our great new flavors - and benefit the wonderful cause of Kids' Food Basket.

"Hudsonville Ice cream is going to be a lot more visible this summer - from the Local First Street Fair in Grand Rapids to the Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven and other popular community events around the region."

Hudsonville Creamery & Ice Cream got its start in 1895 in Hudsonville, Mich. as a farmers' cooperative which later began using its fresh milk and cream to make ice cream. Today, many of the original flavors and recipes are still in use at the Company's state-of-the-art production facility in Holland.

The production process starts as Hudsonville buys whole milk and cream from West Michigan dairy farmers. The Company's "mix master," Ron Brouwer, has been blending recipes for more than 45 years. Hudsonville begins with premium ingredients, such as sugar and farm fresh cream and milk, then adds high-quality chocolate, nuts and cherries and other ingredients to create more than 60 different flavors.

The product is then sent to Hudsonville's custom spiral freezer at 40 degrees below zero for 150 minutes to lock in its great taste, flavor and quality. Hudsonville Ice Cream is sold to grocery stores, retailers, convenience stores, ice cream parlors and other locations in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois, and will soon be adding locations in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

About Hudsonville Creamery & Ice Cream, Inc.
Hudsonville Creamery & Ice Cream, Inc. is the largest manufacturer of branded ice cream in Michigan. The Company got its start in 1895 as a farmers' cooperative in Hudsonville, Mich., which began using its fresh milk and cream to make ice cream. Today, Hudsonville is headquartered in Holland and sells its premium ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet and reduced-fat products to grocery stores, retailers, convenience stores, ice cream parlors and other locations in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois; it will soon be adding locations in Wisconsin and Minnesota. The Company has been making exceptionally creamy and delicious ice cream for the past 80 years and still uses many of its original flavors and recipes. For more information, visit http://www.hudsonvilleicecream.com.

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