Dippin' Dots

Dippin' Dots, Inc.

Type	Private
Industry	Retail
Fate	Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Founded	Lexington, Kentucky (1995)
Headquarters	Paducah, Kentucky, U.S.
Products	Ice cream
Website	dippindots.com

Dippin' Dots is an ice cream snack, invented by Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduate Curt Jones in 1987.^[1] The confection is created by flash freezing ice cream mix in liquid nitrogen; consequently, Dippin' Dots contain less air than conventional ice cream.^{[citation needed]} The resulting small spheres of ice cream are stored at temperatures ranging from −70 to −20 °F (from −57 °C to −29 °C).^{[citation needed]} The marketing slogan is "Ice Cream of the Future". The snack is made by Dippin' Dots, Inc., headquartered in Paducah, Kentucky.^[2] In 2011 the company has reported revenues of $27.7 million, beating the previous year of $26.7 million.^[3]

Dippin' Dots Flavored Ice Cream

Dippin' Dots store entrance in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.

Amusement park stand, Valleyfair amusement park, Shakopee, Minnesota.

Dippin' Dots Amusement Park Stand in Cedar Point of Sandusky, Ohio.

The company, headquartered in Paducah, Kentucky^[3], United States, recently began selling its product in stores such as supermarkets in the United States. On its official website, the company notes that its product requires storage at temperatures below −40 °F (−40 °C),^[4] which is considerably colder than standard home freezers.^{[citation needed]} Dippin' Dots are sold in individual servings at franchised outlets, many in stadiums, shopping malls, and in vending machines. Theme parks such as Schlitterbahn, Six Flags, Cedar Fair, PARC Management, Kennywood, SeaWorld, stadiums and arenas also sell Dippin' Dots. The ice cream is sold over the Internet for delivery to homes and businesses through retail grocery chain Kroger only.

Several competing beaded ice-cream lines have been introduced in recent years. Some of these competing brands are similar to Dippin' Dots in shape or size, yet differ in that they use dairy stabilizers and artificial sweeteners, in an effort to keep the beads from adhering to one another. Dippin' Dots, made from conventional ice cream ingredients, are held at sub-zero temperatures to keep the beads separate and free-flowing.

Dippin' Dots Franchising, LLC is the franchise division of the company. The company sells franchise rights to sell Dippin' Dots ice cream at retail stores in the U.S.

Dippin' Dots Global, Inc. represents the company in select markets outside the U.S. and its territories. Dippin' Dots are produced in Seoul, South Korea, for distribution throughout the Pacific Rim. The company maintains a distribution center in Melbourne, Australia as well.

Dippin' Dots were patented, but the patent was ruled unenforceable in February 2007.^[5] The court invalidated the original patent because it was "obvious" and ruled the patent unenforceable because Dippin Dots had sold the product commercially for over a year before applying for the patent.^[6]

On December 19, 2008, the company made an announcement that it is exploring the option of combining resources with another, unknown company. The spokesperson for the company stated "Dippin' Dots will continue to take orders and ship product as we have for the past twenty years".^[7]

Recognition

The ice cream has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Food TV, and The Travel Channel. It was featured on Gene Simmons Family Jewels on A&E Network. Dippin' Dots was recently the title sponsor for the "Celebrity Grand Slam Paddle Jam" celebrity ping pong tournament in Hollywood. Proceeds went to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The company is also a contributor to the charity Give Kids the World Village in Kissimmee, Florida. The show Modern Marvels recently included Dippin' Dots in their segment on the history and future of ice cream. Dippin' Dots most recently collaborated with the newest adaptation of Journey to the Center of the Earth, awarding the winner a trip to Iceland, the location of the film. Dippin' Dots was also recently featured on Todd Wilbur's food show Top Secret Recipe (November 2011) despite the November 4 bankruptcy filing referred to below.

The Dippin' Dots Franchising, Inc. brand earned rank 112 and then 175 on the Entrepreneur "Franchise 500" in 2008 and 2009, respectively. ^[8]

Bankruptcy

On November 4, 2011, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy^[9] protection. Dippin' Dots states that it was due to a failure to reach an agreement with their lender, Regions Bank after attempts to do so. However, Regions Bank, according to the New York Times, has been trying to foreclose on Dippin' Dots for over a year.^[3].

References

1. ^ "Curt Jones", Dippin Dots Website, accessed 14 Dec 2010
2. ^ "Dippin' Dots Contact Information." Dippin' Dots. Retrieved on March 5, 2010.
3. ^ ^{a b c} Mark Memmott (2011). "Dippin' Dots, 'Ice Cream Of The Future,' Files For Bankruptcy Protection". The Two-Way. National Public Radio. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/11/04/142025201/dippin-dots-ice-cream-of-the-future-files-for-bankruptcy-protection?ft=1&f=1001&sc=tw&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter. Retrieved 4 April 2010. 
4. ^ http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203716204577017782899029206.html
5. ^ http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions/05-1330.pdf Dippin' Dots, Inc. v. Mosey; history of the case (affirmed on appeal).
6. ^ http://www.zuberlaw.com/attorneys/articles/DippinDots-What_Went_Wrong.pdf
7. ^ "Local Company Makes Major Announcement". http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/local/story/Local-Company-Makes-Major-Announcement/reHXSIAgtEOHeM4fbWxGKw.cspx. 
8. ^ http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/dippindotsfranchising/289468-0.html
9. ^ "Dippin' Dots Melts: Deals to Watch". http://www.thestreet.com/story/11300602/1/dippin-dots-melts-deals-to-watch.html. 

External links

• Official Website