Dairy Processing -March/April 2022 - 20

A SCOOP OF THANKS
On April 23, 2020, DGIC kicked off a large-scale
ice cream donation initiative to deliver 158,879
smiles across 129 hospitals. The company worked
with existing partners and customers to reroute ice
cream that was originally planned for food service
customers to hospitals.
" Our mission was to show gratitude to frontline
workers in the US. who had risen to the challenge
of caring for our communities in the uncertain times
brought on by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, "
Zirpoli said. " What we know how to do best is make
ice cream that brings smiles to people's faces. In an
effort to bring a smile to frontline workers during
challenging times, DGIC worked with hospitals in
several states, including in the communities where
we live and work, to share a moment of joy with our
ice cream. "
Through its Scoop of Thanks ice cream initiative
DGIC served healthcare workers in Indiana, California,
Washington, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Maryland and
New York.
The feedback DGIC received from hospital staff
was overwhelmingly positive, Zirpoli said.
" It was really great to see so many frontline heroes
enjoy a moment with our delicious ice cream and be
so grateful for it, " she said.
The people DGIC employs and its surrounding
communities are at the center of what they do,
Zirpoli said.
" It's important that we make sure we take care of
employees and the communities in which we work
and live. I am personally very proud of our Scoop
of Thanks initiative launched when COVID-19 was
putting the most pressure on hospital frontline
workers. Our employees rallied together and really
stepped up to the plate. "
for the ice cream giant, DGIC is making a $600
million investment over four years in factory
expansions, including new equipment.
The company also is investing heavily in
training.
" Our consumers are demanding more
complex, interesting combinations of products.
Therefore, our production lines have become
more complicated and intricate, " Rguem said.
" The equipment is new, it's different and it's
faster. So, we are also investing in training
our employees to operate new equipment and
developing their technical expertise to make
the best ice cream we can. "
In addition to investing in infrastructure,
DGIC is adding three new selling locations
across its network.
" Our goal is to have all of our products
stocked on store shelves - all of the time.
Additionally, DGIC's selling capacity has
increased about 30% this year, " Rguem said.
" In the spirit of building for the future, we
are creating an infrastructure that facilitates
the growth that we see happening in the
marketplace today, and we have real confidence
that it will only increase moving forward. "
DGIC's investment includes $145 million
in an expansion of its Fort Wayne, Ind.,
production facility, anticipating up to 145 jobs
by the end of 2024.
The plans include two new production lines
for the company's Drumstick products, set to
be fully operational by the end of 2023. That's in
20 MAR-APR 2022 | DAIRYPROCESSING.COM
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Dairy Processing -March/April 2022

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