Velvet Ice Cream Opens Ft. Wayne Distribution Center

Utica, Ohio (February 22, 2010) – The Velvet Ice Cream Company expanded its Indiana operations today with the opening of a distribution center in Ft. Wayne.

It is Velvet's second distribution center in Indiana and part of an effort to increase the company's presence in northeast Indiana. Velvet also operates a distribution center in Indianapolis.

"We're looking to recommit our efforts to the Ft. Wayne area," said Velvet President Luconda Dager. "We've had a presence in Ft. Wayne for 25 years, but having a dedicated distribution center will enable us to increase our brand awareness."

Among the locations selling Velvet in the Ft. Wayne area are Scott Foods, Kroger and Walgreen's. Velvet also is a sponsor of the Ft. Wayne TinCaps.

Prior to opening the Ft. Wayne distribution center, Velvet trucked ice cream from a company owned distribution center in Bucyrus, Ohio, two hours away. Velvet Ice Cream and novelties will be cold-shipped from its production facility in Utica, Ohio, to the distribution center.

There will be two full-time employees at the distribution center during the start-up phase - a salesman and a route driver-salesman. Dager said she expects to add additional employees as business increases.

The warehouse is located at 830 Hayden St.

Headquartered at Ye Olde' Mill in Utica, Ohio, Velvet Ice Cream has been a family owned and operated business for nearly 100 years. Founded in 1914 by family patriarch Joseph Dager, Velvet has been run by four generations of the Dager family. Each year, Velvet produces more than five million gallons of ice cream, which can be found in freezer cases throughout the Midwest and Florida. The historic Ye Olde' Mill, which houses the company headquarters, an ice cream museum and restaurant, attracts more than 150,000 visitors a year.

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CONTACT:
Robin Yocum
614.378.3286