United Dairy Farmers and Grippo Foods launch Fun Food Crunch
United Dairy Farmers, a family-owned ice-cream maker and regional convenience-store chain, and Grippo Foods, a Cincinnati snack-food company, are collaborating on a new limited-edition flavour called Homemade Brand Fun Food Crunch. The product combines buttered-popcorn-flavoured ice cream with a caramel swirl infused with Bar-B-Q seasoning and chocolatey crunchy pretzel pieces.
The ice cream will be sold in an exclusive co-branded 16-ounce pint. Distribution is scheduled to begin in the week of August 16 at Cincinnati-area Kroger stores and at all UDF retail locations, while supplies last.
The companies said the product brings together businesses with longstanding ties to Cincinnati. Together, they represent nearly 200 years of serving families in the tri-state area. UDF chief executive Michael Ahmed said the partnership reflected the companies’ “commitment to quality, family values and creating products people love”. He described Fun Food Crunch as a product combining the two brands’ traditions.
Grippo Foods vice-president of sales John Dourson said the arrangement gave Grippo’s an opportunity to place one of its signature flavours in a new category. “Food should be fun, and that's exactly what this collaboration is all about,” he said. Dourson added that working with UDF and its Homemade Brand would allow the company to recognise its Cincinnati roots while offering consumers a different way to eat familiar flavours.
UDF was founded in 1940 and operates more than 170 sites across Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Its business includes retail stores, ice-cream manufacturing, distribution, logistics, cold storage and petroleum transportation. The company employs more than 3,200 full- and part-time workers and sells products under the Homemade Brand, UDF Brand and Main Avenue Creamery names.
Grippo Foods traces its history back 107 years and remains a family business involving five generations of the Grippo family. The company produces potato chips and other snack foods. UDF said it was the originator of Cookies ’N Cream ice cream made with real Oreo cookies, and also sells hand-dipped ice cream, malts, shakes, bakery products and prepared food.
