Make
Your Hotel Reservations at the Crowne Plaza Hotel
November 6-10, 2007
Crowne Plaza Riverwalk, San Antonio, Texas
November 12-15, 2008
Hilton Hotel, St. Petersburg, Florida
November 4-7, 2009
Chaparral Suites, Scottsdale, Arizona
NICRA 2006 CONVENTION REVIEW
NEW OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS ELECTED
The National Ice Cream Retailers Association elected new officers and
board members at the 73rd Annual Convention held November 8-11, 2006
at the Hilton DeSoto Hotel, Savannah, Georgia.
Elected as president of the association was Mark Leichtman, MaggieMoo’s
International, Columbia, Maryland.; president elect is Jim Mitchell,
Woodside Farm Creamery, Hockessin, Delaware. Elected as vice president
was Vince Giordano, Sno Top, Ltd., Manlius, New York and Bob Turner,
Dairy Corner, Urbana, Ohio was elected Secretary/Treasurer. Rich Johnson,
Tasty Time, Folsom, California becomes immediate past president.
Elected to the board of directors for three year terms were: Katie Dolan-Dix,
Capannari’s Ice Cream, Mt. Prospect, IL; Cliff Freund, Cliff’s
Dairy Maid, Ledgewood, NJ; Karen Gagne, Karen’s Kreamery, Surprise,
AZ; Peggy Gifford, Gifford’s Ice Cream, Skowhegan, ME; and Juergen
Kloo, Joy Cone Co., Hermitage, PA.
SUPPLIER OFFICERS RE-ELECTED
The National Ice Cream Retailers Suppliers Association re-elected their
officers at the 73rd Annual Convention held November 8-11, 2006 at the
Hilton DeSoto Hotel, Savannah, Georgia.
Re-elected as president of the association Jay Rentschler, Upstate Farms
Cooperative, Buffalo, New York; Rich Draper, The Ice Cream Club, Boynton
Beach, Florida was re-elected Vice President and Tom Zak, Concord Foods,
Brockton, Massachusetts was re-elected Secretary/Treasurer. Margaret
Anderson, Taylor Freezer of New England, Norwood, Massachusetts remains
as chairperson.
ICE CREAM CLINIC WINNERS
Each year, members of The National Ice Cream Retailers Association,
who make their own ice cream, submit samples of their ice cream to a
professor of dairy science, prior to the Annual Convention, to be analyzed
and compared to ice cream standards.
This year Dr. Johnny McGregor, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina
analyzed 17 samples of vanilla and 15 samples of chocolate ice cream
submitted by members of the association. The ice cream is scored, according
to color, texture, taste, bacterial count, and many other factors. Blue
Ribbons are awarded to those scoring the highest marks, then Red Ribbons,
and White Ribbons.
The following winners received their certificates at the Association’s
Annual Convention, held November 8-11, 2006 at the Hilton DeSoto Hotel
in Savannah, Georgia.
VANILLA ICE CREAM
Blue Ribbons:
Ashby’s Sterling Ice Cream, Shelby Township, MI (Vanilla Bean)
Double Dip, Lebanon, OH
Queen City Creamery & Deli, Cumberland, MD
VANILLA ICE CREAM
Red Ribbons:
Ashby’s Sterling Ice Cream, Shelby Township, MI
Gifford’s Ice Cream, Skowhegan, ME
HomeTown Creamery, North St. Paul, MN
Kilby Cream, Rising Sun, MD
Maggie Moo’s International, LLC, Columbia, MD (Vanilla Bean)
Sno Top, Ltd., Manlius, NY (Soft Serve)
Sno Top, Ltd., Manlius, NY (Soft Serve)
VANILLA ICE CREAM
White Ribbons:
Ashby’s Sterling Ice Cream, Shelby Township, MI (French Vanilla)
Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream, Madison, WI (Old Fashioned Vanilla)
Lita’s Divine Creamery, Lake Mary, FL
Maggie Moo’s International, LLC, Columbia, MD
Smith Dairy Products Co., Orrville, OH (Vanilla & Old Fashion Vanilla)
CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM
Blue Ribbons:
Double Dip, Lebanon, OH
CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM
Red Ribbons:
Ashby’s Sterling Ice Cream, Shelby Township, MI
Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream, Madison, WI (Zanzibar Chocolate)
Gifford’s Ice Cream, Skowhegan, ME
HomeTown Creamery, North St. Paul, MN
MaggieMoo’s International, LLC, Columbia, MD (Chocolate & Dark
Chocolate)
Sno Top, Ltd., Manlius, NY (Soft Serve)
Sno Top, Ltd., Manlius, NY (Soft Serve)
Woodside Farm Creamery, Hockessin, DE
CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM
White Ribbons:
Bridger Ridge Homemade Ice Cream, Belgrade, MT
Karen’s Kreamery, Surprise, AZ
Kilby Cream, Rising Sun, MD
MaggieMoo’s International, Columbia, MD (Maggie’s Fudge)
Smith Dairy Products, Orrville, OH, (Ruggles Chocolate)
Next year the Ice Cream Clinic Review will examine vanilla and strawberry
ice cream.
BEST NEW FLAVOR CONTEST
“Mountain Blackberry” Ice Cream was named the best new flavor
at the National Ice Cream Retailers Association Annual Meeting recently
held at the Hilton DeSoto Hotel in Savannah, Georgia, November 8-11,
2006. The Best New Flavor contest is held each year in conjunction with
the Ice Cream Clinic Review at the annual meeting.
The ice cream is formulated and produced by Ashby’s Sterling Ice
Cream, Shelby Township, Michigan. The company won the coveted First
Place for its new flavor. A total of 31 new flavors were submitted by
NICRA member companies. Each flavor is sampled by convention attendees
and a vote is taken by ballot at the meeting. The winner was announced
during the annual banquet at the end of the meeting.
Cliff’s Dairy Maid, Ledgewood, New Jersey won Second Place for
Plantation Peach Melba. Third Place went to MaggieMoo’s International,
Columbia, Maryland for Chocolate Better Batter. Honorable Mentions went
to Smith Dairy, Orrville, Ohio for Fried Ice Cream and Cliff’s
Dairy Maid, Ledgewood, New Jersey for Holy Canoli Ice Cream.
BEST NUT FLAVOR
“Senator Shaprio’s Texas Praline” Ice Cream was named
the best nut flavor at the National Ice Cream Retailers Association
Annual Meeting recently held at the Hilton DeSoto Hotel in Savannah,
Georgia November 8-11, 2006. The Best Nut Flavor contest is held each
year in conjunction with the Ice Cream Clinic Review at the annual meeting.
The ice cream is formulated and produced by Henry’s Homemade Ice
Cream in Plano, Texas. The company won the coveted First Place for its
flavor. A total of 15 new nut flavors were submitted by NICRA members.
Each flavor is sampled by convention attendees and a vote is taken by
ballot at the meeting. The winner was announced during the annual banquet
at the end of the meeting.
Karen’s Kreamery, Surpirse, Arizona won second place for Pumpkin
Praline Ice Cream. Double Dip, Lebanon, Ohio took third place with Almond
Brickle Ice Cream. Honorable Mentions were given to Queen City Creamery
and Deli, Cumberland, Maryland for Peanut Butter Frozen Custard and
Gifford’s Ice Cream, Skowhagen, Maine for Pistachio Nut.
TEN STUDENTS WIN BRYCE THOMSON SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
During the Bryce Thomson Silent and Live Auctions recently held during
the annual meeting in Savannah, Georgia, it was announced that ten employees
of member stores will each be receiving scholarship awards. The winners
are:
Claire Giroux, Skoops Ice Cream, Grand Haven, MI ($3,500)
Michael Picinich, Sno Top, Ltd., Manlius, NY ($2,500)
Nathan Minkoff, Anderson’s Frozen Custard, Williamsville, NY ($2,500)
Brandi Groglio, Rita’s Ices, Cones, Shakes, Southington, CT ($2,000)
Cassandra Partridge, Brick Farm Ice Cream, Unity, NH ($1,500)
Jeffrey Carpenter, Hastings Grand Ole Creamery, Hastings, MN ($1,000)
Rachel Pitney, Skoops Ice Cream, Grand Haven, MI ($1,000)
Megan Miller, Skoops Ice Cream, Grand Haven, MI ($1,000)
Christian Page, Page Dairy Mart, Pittsburgh, PA ($1,000)
Caitlin Peck, Brick Farm Ice Cream, Unity, NH ($1,000)
This year, during the silent and live auctions in Savannah,
$18,009 was raised for the Bryce Thomson Scholarship Fund. The suppliers
also agreed to contribute $2,000 and the Board approved another $1,000
contribution. A very special treat for attendees this year was 90-year-old
Bryce Thomson himself in attendance at the convention. Laurie Oringer,
who coordinated both the silent and live auctions, did an outstanding
job and the association is grateful to her. Once again, Steve Carberry,
Carberry’s Homemade acted as the auctioneer and also did an outstanding
job. Vince Giordano, Sno Top also pitched in as auctioneer. The association
would like to thank everyone who donated an article for the auctions
and also everyone who attended the convention and were so generous with
their donations.
The coveted “ice cream cone hat” went to Lynda Utterback,
The National Dipper and Anderson’s Frozen Custard matched the donation
made by Lynda. The hat will be returned next year and auctioned at the
live auction. Competition is heating up for this item. A special “Stanley
Cup” stand for the hat was donated by Jeff Myers, The Double Dip,
Lebanon, Ohio. The names of each donor are engraved on plaques on the
stand.
The Bryce Thomson Scholarship was established in 1995 to honor Bryce
Thomson, a long time member and past president of the association and
author of the monthly association publication, The Sundae School
Newsletter. He worked for Miller Dairy in Eaton Rapids, Michigan
for 40 years and eventually became president of the company. He is the
originator of the “Ice Cream Sundae Poll,” and the “Education
Through Ice Cream” program which assisted a number of secondary
schools with a teaching and learning concept in which students served
up frozen treats during the noon hour in an actual in-school ice cream
parlor. The first, called the “Cold Tongue Ice Cream Parlor”
was set up in Eaton Rapids, Michigan High School in 1973.
CLIFF FREUND, CLIFF’S DAIRY MAID NAMED 2006 FORREST MOCK PERSON
OF THE YEAR
Cliff Freund, Cliff’s Dairy Maid, Ledgewood, New Jersey was named
the 2006 Forrest Mock Person of the Year at the National Ice Cream Retailers
Association Annual Meeting held November 8-11, 2006 at the Hilton DeSoto
in Savannah, Georgia. Forrest Mock, the person for whom this award was
named, served as the 28th president of NICRA in 1961. He went on to
become Executive Director of the Association. He served in that capacity
for many years.
The Award is sponsored each year by The National Dipper Magazine. The
current President of the Association and two immediate Past Presidents
select the winner each year. Cliff is well respected in his community
and in NICRA. Lynda Utterback, Publisher of The National Dipper spoke
to his wife, nephew Pete Freund and several friends.
Cliff has been a member of NICRA for 30 years and over the years served
on several committees. He has also been a member of the Board of Directors
for many years. Lynda said she likse to think of him as the conscience
of the Board. He is the first person to say, “wait a minute, you
can’t do that.” Or, “you need to rethink that.”
Or, “you got to be kidding me.” He is often the voice of reason
during the Board Meetings, or not as the case may be.
She said she has known him for a long time and has come to appreciate
his passion for great ice cream. I’ve watched him, over the years,
be a mentor and advisor to many members who have attended these meetings.
He was born in 1928 and grew up in Succasunna, New Jersey. He attended
Roxbury Township Public Schools and went to Lehigh University on a football
and academic scholarship. He graduated in 1950 with a degree in Metallurgical
Engineering. He started his career at Vulcanizing Rubber and Plastics
in Trenton, New Jersey. After a time, he moved to Texas and worked at
Loma.
He returned to New Jersey and began working in sales as a manufacturer’s
representative. One of the products he sold was flavors for ice cream.
It was this that led him to Van Dyke’s in Wycoff, New Jersey. He
leased Van Dyke’s Ice Cream Barn and continued to run it until
the lease expired and the Barn was converted into part of a church.
He bought Cliff’s Dairy Maid in Ledgewood, New Jersey in 1975.
At one point he also owned and remodeled a store in Franklin Lakes,
New Jersey and one in Denville, New Jersey.
Shortly after opening the ice cream store, he began another career as
well as running the store. He started teaching at Roxbury High School.
He taught distribution education, a natural with his background. His
teaching career lasted 15 years.
Several years ago Cliff wanted to step back from the day to day grind
of running the store. So he approached his nephew, Pete Freund, who
was 21 at the time, with the idea of having him run the store. When
his nephew turned 23 the transition occurred. Twelve years later, his
nephew says his understanding of the transition is much clearer than
it was when it was taking place.
His nephew had this to say about him: "His excitement and enthusiasm
for ice cream and life drew me in and guided me. His sophisticated pallet
and years of experience made him an incredible teacher both for making
ice cream and running a business. His creativity and resourcefulness
helped him create the legendary landmark that people from all over know
as Cliff’s Dairy Maid.
The lessons his nephew learned about people skills, ice cream making,
family, and what it takes to get things done could fill volumes. Over
the years, he gracefully tolerated my youth, stubbornness and mistakes
with nothing but encouragement and patience. He has the patience of
a saint when it comes to me. I think it must have been St. Belvidere,
the patron saint of vodka that helped him through some of my foul ups.
The method and skill he used to show me the ropes are ones that I wish
I could bottle. Especially in retrospect, I am truly amazed and inspired
by him.
He modestly refers to his wisdom as “the grey hairs.” I personally
think that it is what happens when experience and keen observance meet
up with hard work and open mindedness.”
His good friends Mary and Bill Kircher tell me that he always drives
to the NICRA meetings with friends and there are always side trips planned.
He is affectionately referred to as the tour guide.
After he “retired” from the day to day grind of the ice cream
shop, he started a consulting business, working with Hershey Creamery,
Maggie Moo’s and others. He is the father of four children, grandfather
of ten and great grandfather of seven. He has been married to his lovely
wife Aud for 22 years.
His current interest, in addition to keeping up with NICRA is everything
that has anything to do with ice cream, photography and travelling.
Congratulations Cliff Freund, the 2006 Forrest Mock Person of the Year.
|
