BLUE BELL BRENHAM PLANT RESUMES OPERATIONS
Blue Bell Creameries resumed operations at its Brenham, Texas, facility today.
“We are excited to announce that Blue Bell Ice Cream is once again being made at our main production plant in Brenham,” said Greg Bridges, vice president of operations for Blue Bell. “Over the past several months we have been preparing our facility for this day. We are very thankful for the patience and support our customers have shown Blue Bell.”
Operations are currently on a limited basis as the company seeks to confirm that new procedures, facility enhancements and employee training are effective. Ice cream produced will be closely monitored and tested. There is no firm date for when ice cream from the Brenham facility will be available for sale.
Blue Bell released a video from its employees in conjunction with the reopening of its Brenham plant this morning. They expressed their gratitude for the continued support and excitement of being back in production and having products in stores. “I’m excited about being able to get back down on the production floor,” said 34-year employee David Hutchinson.
Currently Blue Bell is in phase two of its five-phase return plan and will enter phase three on December 14. Nearly 700 of its employees, who were put on paid furlough earlier this year, have returned to work.
Blue Bell began production at its Sylacauga, Ala., and Broken Arrow, Okla., facilities in July and September respectively. “We anticipate that our new procedures and enhancements that have already been implemented in Alabama and Oklahoma will also be effective in Texas,” Bridges said. “For now we will produce a limited number of products at each facility.”
Tours will not resume at this time at the Brenham facility, but the Country Store, Visitor Center and ice cream parlor are open to the public.
For more information and to view the video from Blue Bell employees visit bluebell.com.
NOTE: The employee video can be viewed here https://vimeo.com/146057615
Well ddbu, that is partially true. Equipment is a large part of that business tax. That is all equipment, office, warehouse, transportation, production, inventory, and ALL on the honor system. Don’t know about others, but I don’t use my personal property to make money.
It would be great if us homeowners could determine the values of our homes for taxation. Washington county business owners are on the honor system when submitting to the appraisal district the details of business property to be taxed. Why not the homeowner?
Because you DO NOT pay property tax on your personal property. I am sure if you would like to call the tax office and add that to your tax bill, they would love add that for you for whatever you tell them the value is. Business owners pay property tax on their buildings AND business personal property. You DO NOT, so be careful what you wish for.
You DO NOT address the BB inventory valuation at 1/2 of prior years valuation.
Any business that is able to control inventory levels at lower levels is smart to do so. It ties up less cash and it lowers your tax bill. Blue Bell or any other business has any obligation to maintain high inventories to keep the tax man happy. To suggest otherwise is somewhat silly and is a poor strategic move by the business.
The video was awesome. We sometimes forget in our anger at “big corporations” that it is people from all ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, and wealth that are the backbone. They are also the backbone of America. Blue Bell has been around a long time, bringing countless smiles to America. Smiles to those who consume it and those who earn a living loving making Blue Bell Ice Cream. I am so happy to see Blue Bell up and running and the employees back to work. That sense of pride is contagious. God bless Blue Bell and employees, God bless Brenham, God bless Texas and God bless America. Prayers to you all for many years of success.
Maybe they can get their inventory back up to $13 million. Unproductive for taxpayers when they were taxed for $7 million in inventory as of 1/1/15, when inventory had been much higher in previous years. Did they know something at the beginning of the year and reduced the amount in inventory or did they get some good old boy deal? As Artie Johnson would say, “Very interesting”
As a share holder of blue bell stock I am extremely happy that all the plants are now making ice cream. This has been a very unproductive year for everyone with ties to blue bell.It is now time to move a head.
I have not had any ice cream since all this happened and still have had none since the stores in San Marcos, Tx have not been serviced. I am a faithful Blue Bell ice cream lover! Come on Blue Bell, git ‘er done!