Blue Bell Back on Shelves August 31st

The countdown to Blue Bell Ice Cream has begun. Blue Bell Creameries announced on Monday, a 5-phase plan to put its ice cream back on store shelves beginning on Monday, August 31. Phase 1 brings Blue Bell home to its roots.

The first roll-out of the Texas icon for ice cream will be stores located in the Brenham, Houston and Austin areas of Texas.

Phase 1 also includes Birmingham and Montgomery, Alabama, where the ice cream is currently being manufactured. The Texas and Oklahoma production plants remained closed at this time. Earlier this month, Breitbart Texas reported health department officials in Alabama gave Blue Bell the green light to begin production runs.

Trucks began hitting the road from Blue Bell’s production facility in Sylacauga, Alabama, late last week. At that time, Breitbart Texas reported Blue Bell did not release the destination of these trucks carrying precious cargo. On Friday, trucks filled with ice-cream began arriving in a Houston area distribution center located in Alvin, Texas.

Announcing the plan, Blue Bell Vice-President for Sales and Marketing Ricky Dickson, said its goal is to return to full distribution as soon as possible. “It’s a little like trying to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool with a single garden hose,” he said in the video below. “It can be done, but it’s just going to take some time.”

We have exciting news! from Blue Bell Creameries on Vimeo.

“Over the past several months we have been working to make our facilities even better, and to ensure that everything we produce is safe, wholesome and of the highest quality for you to enjoy,” said Ricky Dickson, vice president of sales and marketing for Blue Bell.  “This is an exciting time for us as we are back to doing what we love…making ice cream!”

Blue Bell laid out its return to market strategy as a 5-phase plan. Phase one is described above. Phases 2-5 are:

• Phase Two: North central Texas and southern Oklahoma
• Phase Three: Southwest Texas and central Oklahoma
• Phase Four: The majority of Texas and southern Louisiana.
• Phase Five: Complete the states of Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas and begin distribution in Arkansas, Florida, northern Louisiana and Mississippi. This phase will also include only parts of the following states:  Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

The dates for phases 2-5 have not yet been determined, but for those in central Texas and Alabama, let the countdown begin.

Bob Price is a senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas and a member of the original Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX and on Facebook.