PADUCAH, KY. —Dippin’ Dots has opened a new manufacturing facility focused on supporting Dippin’ Dots Cryogenics, LLC, an arm of the company that lends the brand’s patented technology and equipment for applications beyond ice cream.
The $3.2 million, 6,000-square-foot facility is located in Paducah, Ky. It will add 45 new jobs once operating at full capacity and allows the company to use its original facility solely for ice cream production.
Dippin’ Dots Cryogenics has manufactured for the plant-based meat segment, probiotic brands, pharmaceutical companies and more since launching in 2018. Its cryogenic process uses liquid nitrogen to flash-freeze products that require high-quality standards and is a suitable first step for a variety of products that need to be freeze dried, such as plant extractions, probiotics and bacterial cultures.
“We're excited about the progress we've made and believe there are numerous types of food products still untapped, such as companies that produce sauces or gravies for frozen meals,” said Stan Jones, vice president of development at Dippin’ Dots. “We've also developed the technology to freeze fresh cream and butter into beads that can be stored in the home freezer. Another potential use of our technology is for freezing blood plasma and maintaining it at cryogenic temperatures until needed. We're excited to license our technology to help innovate further in other industries around the globe.”
The investment in Dippin’ Dots’ cryogenic business comes on the heels of drastic changes in the market and to consumer behaviors, said Scott Fischer, chief executive officer.
“The need for businesses to adapt with unprecedented strategic alternatives is more important than ever,” he said. “We feel lucky that because of our diversification due to the cryogenics business, our brand has been able to sustain the sales hit better than anticipated. During this challenging time, we strategically supplemented our brand with the additional revenue stream from the cryogenics business. We know there's a bright future for more applications and that it's a win-win for Dippin' Dots when it comes to the strength of our company.”