Businesses celebrate Gifford’s ‘Muddy Bean Boots’

 AUGUSTA – Gov. Paul LePage traveled to Scarborough Tuesday (Aug. 21) to join representatives of Gifford’s Dairy, L.L. Bean, Oakhurst Dairy, and Hannaford Supermarkets in celebrating the launch of Gifford's “Muddy Bean Boots,” as their latest flavor of ice cream to be sold in quart-sized retail containers.

  “L.L. Bean and Gifford's are Maine brands we are all familiar with. It is great to see these companies come together to make a product that Mainers love,” said LePage.

  Combined, Gifford’s – headquartered in Skowhegan – and L.L. Bean employ more than 4,500 Mainers year-round and total about 9,000 employees during peak seasons. Both businesses are native to Maine and family-owned. Oakhurst is also a Maine family-owned business with 200 employees, and Hannaford employs 10,000 Mainers.

  “I am proud to be here to celebrate this successful business partnership. I hope there are many more to come,” said LePage

  L.L. Bean teamed up with Gifford's to create a new flavor in honor of L.L. Bean's 100th anniversary; the result was Muddy Bean Boots: vanilla ice cream with caramel ripples and sweet brownie bites.

  Introduced in March at Gifford’s five family-owned ice cream stands, Muddy Bean Boots has already become one of Gifford's top-10 selling flavors. Due to its unprecedented popularity, Gifford’s decided to produce the flavor in quart containers for purchase at retail stores and supermarkets.

  Muddy Bean Boots will be sold in quart containers at all five Gifford's stands throughout Maine as well as Hannaford Supermarkets in New England, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Eastern Pennsylvania.

  A portion of the proceeds of Muddy Bean Boots sales will go to Healthy Hometowns, a Maine non-profit program which promotes family health through outdoor recreation and exercise.