Search

Home » Company » History

Dippin' Dots Company Timeline

1987Microbiologist Curt Jones begins research to cryogenically freeze ice cream mix into small beads.
1988Dippin' Dots established as a company and production begins in Curt Jones' parents' garage in Grand Chain, Illinois.
1989Opryland U.S.A. in Nashville, Tenn., is the company's first amusement park account.
1990Production moves from founder Curt Jones' garage to a former liquor store in Paducah, Kentucky.
1991Dealer network established for fair, festival and commercial retail locations
1994Curt Jones named an Ernst & Young "Entrepreneur of the Year" finalist
1995Company begins trade with Japan, its first international licensee.
1995First Australian distribution center for Dippin'Dots opens in Melbourne
1995New 32,000 sq. ft. production facility opens in Paducah
1996Dippin' Dots places 171st on Inc. Magazine's "Inc. 500" list of fastest growing privately held companies.
1997www.dippindots.com V.1 is launched
1997Dippin' Dots receives World Trade Success Award from Kentucky World Trade Center
1997Dippin' Dots places 331st on Inc. Magazine's "Inc. 500" list of fastest growing privately held companies.
1997Production facility expands by 20,000 sq. ft
1998Vending Machine program is launched, primarily in movie theatres nationwide
2000Dippin' Dots Franchising, Inc. established, first franchise offered.
2002Online sales begin of ice cream and Dippin' Dots merchandise
2002Dippin' Dots became a regular menu offering for McDonald's restaurants in San Francisco Bay area in California. Grew to several hundred McDonald's restaurants
2002Triple honors from Entrepreneur magazine: 112th spot on the "Franchise 500" list, 69th "Fastest Growing" franchise company and No. 1 "New Franchise Company
2003Manufacturing plant opens in South Korea, operated by a licensee, to serve markets in Asia.
2003Company constructs largest -50°F commercial walk-in freezer in North America at its Kentucky facility.
2003Dippin' Dots Franchising, Inc. Achieves 144th spot on the Entrepreneur "Franchise 500," and No. 4 on its Top 50 New Franchise Companies list.
2004Dippin' Dots Franchising, Inc. Achieves 112th spot on the Entrepreneur "Franchise 500," and No. 4 (again) on its Top 50 New Franchise Companies list.
2004Dippin' Dots Global, Inc., formed to coordinate international business activities.
2004Dippin' Dots Founder Curt Jones is a guest on the Oprah Winfrey television program
2004Six Flags Theme Parks select Dippin' Dots as "Vendor of the Year"
2005International Dairy Foods Association names Dippin' Dots Best In Show for Dot Delicacies. Dippin' Dots also wins three awards for package design.
2005Dippin' Dots Franchising, Inc. ranks No. 1 on Franchise Times Magazine's Fast 55 list of the fastest growing young franchises in the nation.
2005Ice cream cake and ice cream sandwiches (Dotwiches) introduced to launch the "Dot Delicacies" program
2005Six Flags Theme Parks (again) select Dippin' Dots as "Vendor of the Year"
2005 Dippin' Dots first produced in Canada
2005Dippin' Dots available in Panama
2005Dippin' Dots Franchising, Inc. ranks 93rd on the Entrepreneur "Franchise 500"
2006Company leadership restructured. Curt Jones becomes Founder/Chairman of the Board. Tom Leonard becomes President, Dippin' Dots, Inc.
2006Third major expansion project begins featuring expansion of production and shipping/loading areas
2006Dots 'n Cream, conventional ice cream enhanced by beads of Dippin' Dots, is introduced for testing market in Kroger stores in the midwest
2006Dippin' Dots available in The Netherlands
2007www.dippindots.com V.5 is launched
2007Dippin' Dots available in Colombia
2008Dippin' Dots Franchising, Inc. ranks 112th on the Entrepreneur "Franchise 500"