NATIONAL MANUFACTURING DAY SPOTLIGHT: BLUE BELL CREAMERIES

  

Today (Friday) is National Manufacturing Day, and throughout the week KWHI has celebrated some of Brenham and Washington County’s key manufacturers.

Thursday, KWHI discussed QuestSpecialty. We wrap up the series with a look at a household name in the ice cream business: Blue Bell Creameries.

In Brenham at 1101 South Blue Bell Road, Blue Bell doesn’t need much of an introduction. The company is well known across the country for its brand of varied flavors of ice cream and novelty snacks.

Blue Bell started out as the Brenham Creamery Company in 1907, when a group of local investors realized that dairy cows in the area were producing more than families could consume. It would change to its current name, Blue Bell Creameries, in 1936.  The company initially only made butter; it was not until the 1950’s that it would focus solely on making ice cream.

Joe Robertson, Executive Director of Advertising and Marketing at Blue Bell, said that throughout the company’s 112-year lifespan, it has put an emphasis on sourcing product ingredients locally.

 

 

Blue Bell currently employs around 750 people at just the Brenham facility, with 3,200 employees company-wide. Jobs include production and maintenance, sales, and transportation of goods.

Robertson said the City of Brenham has created a positive economic environment for Blue Bell, and continues to do so for other development.

 

 

Blue Bell is currently working on expansions to its fleet maintenance and pallet transfer facilities, which should be complete by the first quarter of next year.

Of course, anyone is welcome to stop by and see how the ice cream is made, from the observation deck next to the Ice Cream Parlor.

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8 Comments

  1. The best thing about Blue Bell Ice Cream is that if your favorite is not currently in rotation, you always have Homemade Vanilla available!

  2. My family are a big fan of your Butter Crunch ice cream here in Lawrenceville GA. It is so hard to fine. I once called the distributor in Dacula GA to send me 4 cartons to one of out local Walmart stores. Is this ice cream seasonal?

  3. Only ice cream I eat! Bought a freezer just to store my Blue Bell favorite flavors to ensure I never run out! No better ice cream made! Needless to say I am Blue Bell”s Biggest Fan!

  4. Blue bell is the only ice cream my husband & I will buy, it is decadent! We are still waiting to see the chocolate covered cherries flavor to grace us with its presence again. Soooo good!

  5. Dear Joe and Blue Bell Ice Cream:

    This is no one in particular, just a person with a dear neighbor who is a Blue Bell superfan.
    She is waiting eagerly for your upcoming Mocha Almond Fudge re-issue, as promised.
    She says she doesn’t have Facebook, but would keep an eye on your website.

    Forever Appreciative,
    M Abbe

  6. Please tell me you will soon be bringing your ice cream to Iowa??!! I first got onto it when we moved to Ft Worth TX in the 80’s. Now whenever we or someone I know goes south we bring back several half gallons. I would do love it here so we don’t have to do that just to get the best ice cream ever!!!!

  7. I love, love, love your ice cream. My favorites are the classic Homemade Vanilla and Butter Pecan. I’m glad you kept the half gallon size, not whittling down to 48 oz. I do miss certain flavors ( Fudge Brownie Nut and Tin Roof) but, understand you have to keep the most popular flavors in rotation.
    PLEASE don’t ever change your recipe!!! I’m a New Yorker and only ate Breyer’s; not anymore.

  8. Does Blue Bell make lactose free ice cream and if not….why not.
    There are thousands of people who are lactose intolerant and would love to eat ice cream.

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