Industry Retail Website dippindots.com Type of business Private | Products Ice cream Founder Curt Jones | |
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Founded 1988, Lexington, Kentucky, United States Headquarters Paducah, Kentucky, United States Profiles | ||
Dippin dots frozen dot maker with pop pens fun fails
Dippin' Dots is an ice cream snack, invented by Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduate Curt Jones in 1988. The confection is created by flash freezing ice cream mix in liquid nitrogen. The marketing slogan is "Ice Cream of the Future". The snack is made by Dippin' Dots, Inc., headquartered in Paducah, Kentucky.
Contents
The surprising origin of dippin dots
History
The company of Dippin' Dots was officially founded in the town of New Grand Chain, IL in 1988. Jones began the company in his parents' garage. The company is now headquartered in Paducah, Kentucky. Because the product requires storage at temperatures below −40 °F (−40 °C), it is not sold in grocery stores, which cannot provide such extreme cooling requirements. Dippin' Dots are sold in individual servings at franchised outlets, many in stadiums, arenas, shopping malls, and in vending machines, as well as at theme parks such as Busch Gardens, Schlitterbahn, Six Flags, Cedar Fair, PARC Management, Kennywood, and SeaWorld and Big Surf.
In 1992, Dippin' Dots acquired a patent on its ice cream and, in 1996, sued its main competitor, Mini Melts for infringement. In 2007, the Court ruled against Dippin' Dots because the process of creating the ice cream was "obvious" rather than proprietary, and ruled the patent unenforceable because Dippin Dots had sold the product commercially for over a year before applying for the patent.
On December 19, 2008, the company announced that it was 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".
Bankruptcy and Sale
On November 4, 2011, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy 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, had been trying to foreclose on Dippin' Dots for over a year.
On May 18, 2012, U.S. Bankruptcy Court approved the purchase of the company by Scott Fischer and his father Mark Fischer. The Fischers co-founded Chaparral Energy in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They said company founder Curt Jones would remain as CEO and would attempt to increase from 1,600 sales locations to 2,000 and would keep the production and headquarters in Paducah where it employs 165 people.
Co-Branding
On February 10, 2015, the company announced the creation of co-branded stores with snack manufacturer Doc Popcorn. The 1,000-square-foot stores will sell both Dippin' Dots and Doc Popcorn products, and the two brands will share the same selling counter, register and employees. The founders of both Doc Popcorn and Dippin' Dots said the agreement will benefit both brands.
Products
There are three different kinds of Dippin' Dots: original dots, dot treats, and dot monster munch. Additionally, limited-run flavors are created for specific locations or events, such as Shamu's Mint Chocolate Flip sold exclusively at SeaWorld locations.
Original Dots
Dot Treats
Dot Monster Munch
International business
Dippin' Dots is a company which is spread out internationally. Dippin' Dots companies are now located in "Chile, Honduras, Canada, US, Russia, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Greece, Belgium, South Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Japan, and Australia" ("Dippin' Dots International") internationally. To recommend the company to bring Dippin' Dots to certain countries, they can contact Dippin' Dots company directly.
Franchise
"Dippin' Dots Franchising (DDF) offers services and support for Dippin' Dots® Franchised Businesses. Dippin' Dots Inc. makes Dippin' Dots® ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet and ice products. The company offers to franchise a retail store or vending machines featuring the sale of novelty frozen ice cream, yogurt, sherbet and ice products. A franchisee will sell products and services to the general public" ("Dippin' Dots Franchise").
Recognition
The Dippin' Dots Franchising, Inc. brand earned rank 112 and then 175 on the Entrepreneur "Franchise 500" in 2008 and 2009, respectively.
Dippin Dots is a frequent target of current White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer
Charity work
Dippin' Dots has sponsored the "Celebrity Grand Slam Paddle Jam" celebrity table tennis tournament in Hollywood, whose proceeds benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
The company is a contributor to the charity Give Kids the World Village in Kissimmee, Florida.