Dippin' Dots Pty Ltd, Springvale, VIC

Dippin’ Dots brings together science, innovation, entertainment, entrepreneurial spirit and persistence. Experimenting with cryogenics in 1987, microbiologist Curt Jones was struck by the idea of using a method of flash freezing ice cream into tiny beads. After six months of trial and error the result was a product which contained virtually no ice crystals or air and had the appearance of tiny, hard beads that were the size of a very small pea. Curt named his creations Dippin’ Dots and he and his family own the company, Dippin’ Dots Inc. By 1990, production was moved from Illinois to Paducah, Kentucky to cope with the rapid growth and demand for Dippin’ Dots at fairs, festivals and retail locations. The company promoted Dippin’ Dots as the “world’s coldest Ice Cream” and “The Ice Cream of the Future”. Sales shot up by 1, 385 percent during the first half of the 1990s. The product was typically distributed from a freestanding cart or kiosk, rather than a full-scale store. To keep up with demand, the firm constructed a new 32, 000 sq ft processing plant in Paducah which opened in 1995. A further 20, 000 sq ft was added in 1997 and by 1998 Dippin’ Dots were being sold in 42 US states and 13 countries by 110 dealers at 350 different locations. By 2001 the c ompany was ranked the third largest ice cream franchiser in the US behind Baskin & Robbins and Dairy Queen. Dippin’ Dots was established in Australia in 1998 with our Head Office and Distribution Centre located in Springvale, Victoria. From a small Victorian operation the Company and Dealership have grown to encompass events in all States and Territories of Australia.