The big scoop: Skowhegan ice cream-maker lands Patriots sponsorship
Courtesy / Gifford's
The fifth generation of Gifford family ice-cream makers, from left: J.C. Gifford, vice president of sales; Lindsay Skilling, CEO; Samantha Plourd, marketing manager; and Ryan Porter, quality assurance manager.
Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream, a family-owned ice cream manufacturer based in Skowhegan, is playing in the big leagues.
The company has secured a five-year sponsorship with the New England Patriots football team, and will provide the official ice cream of the six-time Super Bowl champions, Gifford's Vice President J.C. Gifford told Mainebiz Friday.
He said the company is already working on a new flavor in recognition of the Pats, but wouldn't reveal what it will be. The frozen confection is expected to be available at the team's home field, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., as well as grocery stores, ice cream shops and Gifford’s ice cream stands throughout Maine.
The ice-cream (news) scoop comes on the eve of Maine’s first projected heat wave of the summer — and two days before National Ice Cream Day, July 21.
“The timing couldn’t be better to share this scoop with Patriots fans and we look forward to enjoying the new Patriots ice cream flavor that Gifford’s will unveil later in the season,” said Murray Kohl, vice president of sales for Kraft Sports + Entertainment and the New England Patriots, in a news release.
This isn’t the first time Gifford’s has sought a big-name sports sponsorship.
In 2016, Gifford’s became the official ice cream sponsor of the Boston Bruins. To pay tribute to the hockey team, the Gifford family created “Power Play Fudge,” a flavor that is now one of the company’s top three best-selling flavors, according to the release.
That marketing deal inspired another.
"Given the success of our partnership with the Bruins, I ... sent a message to our current contact with the Patriots, who we had no ties with previously, and asked if he could talk. Eight days later we were in agreement to move forward," said Gifford.
Gifford's Famous Ice Cream is headed by Lindsay Skilling, a 2016 Mainebiz "Woman to Watch" and a fifth-generation member of the Gifford family. She joined the business in the late 2000s, became general manager in 2012, and was named CEO in 2016.
At the time, Mainebiz reported that the company's sales had increased 30% under Skilling's leadership, although specific numbers weren't available. Gifford's has 40 year-round employees and 120 in the summer, producing upwards of 2 million gallons of ice cream annually.
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