Just in time for the weekend, ice-cream fans are buzzing about Blue Bell Creameries’ new flavor released Friday.
The flavor, Cookie Two Step, is a combination of cookie dough and cookies ‘n cream. The flavor is available at several major grocery stores across Houston.
The past two years have been a delicate dance for the company as it recovers from a listeria outbreak; however, each milestone is good not only for Blue Bell, but for everyone in Brenham.
There was a steady stream of people who filed into Blue Bell Creameries’ ice cream parlor Friday to fill up on classic favorites and the new flavor—a treat that ice cream lovers weren’t taking for granted.
“We missed it when we couldn't buy it anymore,” said customer Victoria Flint, “so we are happy they are still hanging in there.”
In 2015, the creamery had to halt production in three states after being linked to a deadly listeria outbreak. Two hundred of Blue Bell’s Brenham employees were furloughed and the town’s tourism industry took a hit. But today, all of those employees are back to work and the company could soon hire even more people.
There are still classic flavors out of production, but Jenny Van Dorf with Blue Bell says most of those flavors will eventually come back.
“It's just a process as we begin building up inventory,” said Van Dorf. “We are constantly working on bringing back some of our favorite flavors.”
Although the parlor and museum are open at Blue Bell Creameries, the public is currently unable to take a factory tour. Blue Bell says it’s planning on starting those up again at some point in the future.