Lindsay Skilling

Lindsay Skilling, CEO of Gifford’s Ice Cream, is optimistic about 2025, especially as consumers seek high-quality, locally sourced food emphasizing unique flavors and tradition.

Mainebiz spoke with three food businesses that have faced a range of challenges, including fire, floods, construction and new product development.

The Maine ice cream maker, a fifth-generation family business, is closing the shop because of challenges caused last year by flooding and a factory fire.

The company, which is resuming its own ice cream production after a fire in 2023, is launching its first year-round line of pint-size varieties.

The Maine-based company had to outsource much of its ice-cream making after a devastating fire shut down its Skowhegan plant a year ago. Now Gifford's is ramping up production, starting with hard-to-find flavors.

In the past 18 months, fires have ravaged businesses in Port Clyde, Houlton, Skowhegan and Belfast. Here's a look at rebuilding plans.

The company announced it is working with four partners to temporarily produce Gifford's Famous Ice Cream as the family makes necessary repairs and prepares the Skowhegan factory to make ice cream again following a February fire.

The company is looking at temporary solutions to begin making ice cream again until the damage is cleaned up and repaired.

Production equipment was damaged, but the people inside the plant were able to get out safely. 

The limited edition flavors are Pumpkin, Apple Pie Churro, and White Peppermint Chocolate Chip. They will be on store shelves in October and available while supplies last.