Blue Bell Re-Enters Oklahoma Market In November

Blue Bell Ice Cream announced Thursday it will re-enter the Tulsa and Oklahoma City markets on November 2.

Blue Bell Creameries removed its products from store shelves in mid-April after they were linked to a Listeria outbreak. Back in August, Blue Bell announced it would begin distributing ice cream in five phases.  

8/17/2015 Related Story: Blue Bell To Return Ice Cream To Stores In Phases

Phase one began last month in the Houston, Texas market. Phase two is the Oklahoma and north Texas area markets.

“We have experienced tremendous consumer response and support since our return to stores on Aug. 31,” said Ricky Dickson, vice president of sales and marketing for Blue Bell. 

“This support, coupled with our current production capacity, has slowed our ability to enter additional distribution areas. We are working as hard as we can to keep stores in phase one stocked without jeopardizing the new quality and safety procedures we have implemented to ensure our products are safe and of the highest quality.”
 
Its Broken Arrow plant began production last month.

9/1/2015 Related Story: Blue Bell Fires Up Production In Broken Arrow

“We continue to make good progress and expect to begin production at our main plant in Brenham in the next few months,” Dickson said. “With our Broken Arrow plant now producing ice cream, we are confident that we can build enough inventory to enter phase two beginning November 2."

 For now Blue Bell Creameries is producing five flavors of ice cream in the half gallon and pint sizes.

“We are extremely grateful to everyone who has supported us during this time,” Dickson said. “Thank you for your patience as we work to return to our markets.”