Dippin' Dots

Dippin' Dots is the originator and leading brand of beaded ice cream, invented in 1988 by microbiologist Curt Jones through the application of cryogenic freezing technology. The company produces its signature flash-frozen, bead-shaped ice cream using a proprietary cryogenic process that differentiates its products from conventional ice cream offerings. Based in the United States, Dippin' Dots has grown from a novel concept into a nationally recognized frozen novelty brand with over 22,000 points of presence across the country. The brand is currently owned by J&J Snack Foods Corp. (NASDAQ: JJSF), a major player in the snack food and beverage industry, which acquired Dippin' Dots and its sister brand Doc Popcorn in 2022. Dippin' Dots products are distributed through a wide range of channels including amusement parks, theme parks, stadiums, arenas, zoos, aquariums, theaters, water parks, fairs and festivals, food trucks, convenience stores, drug stores, schools, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce. The brand is present in nearly every major theme park and in more than two-thirds of all baseball stadiums across the United States. Internationally, the brand made its debut in Japan in 1995. The company's franchise system, operating since 2000, includes more than 100 retail store and shopping center locations coast-to-coast, with many franchisees operating mobile units serving fairs, festivals, and events. A co-branding model exists with Doc Popcorn, the nation's largest popcorn franchise, acquired by Dippin' Dots in 2014. The product lineup includes a variety of flavored beaded ice cream offerings, and the company has recently expanded into retail freezer aisle formats, including Dippin' Dots Ice Cream Cups and Dippin' Dots Sundaes in multi-pack configurations, making the brand accessible for at-home consumption. The foodservice arm of the business provides operational support to venue partners including on-site training, regional management support, and revenue optimization programs. With over three decades of brand recognition, Dippin' Dots targets a broad consumer demographic, with particular marketing emphasis on tweens, teens, and young adults. The brand has earned significant media coverage across national publications such as The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and Food Network Magazine, as well as television appearances on Food TV, Travel Channel, Fox and Friends, and MSNBC.