Deseret News | Snelgrove ice cream brand to melt away

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Snelgrove ice cream brand to melt away

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I grew up on it... | 11:29 a.m. Feb. 21, 2008

and often dropped down to Snelgroves for a "Burnt Almond Fudge" malt for lunch. No one...I mean no one could make Burnt Almond Fudge like Snelgrove could. I knew the founder. It was a great era for ice cream. We will miss you Snelgrove, an institution known for quality, integrity, and service world wide. A name history will not soon forget.

Frank | 11:40 a.m. Feb. 21, 2008

Wish I had a chance to try Snelgroves. I'm a huge fan of Farrs and Russels, the whole milk ice cream tastes better and doesnt attack my lactose intolerance as badly as a low fat mostly whipped air ice cream like Dryers.

Being a Texan new to Utah I grew up on Bluebell and took it for granted. I never realized how good it was till I went back home to visit.

CB | 11:35 a.m. Feb. 21, 2008

When they started to limit the flavors that they put out for Snelgrove, I'm not surprised that the product died out, they took most of the best flavors out of the mix.
The store was a favorite for those special days that we wanted to remember, but those were the days when the youth found fun in doing good clean fun, not hanging out with drugs and a 10 pack.

Comments continue below

Fred | 11:37 a.m. Feb. 21, 2008

It's about time. Snelgrove brand is disgusting.

tsumetaji | 11:37 a.m. Feb. 21, 2008

The call to boycott Dreyers seems to involve misplaced blame. The Snelgrove family was not required to sell their company to anyone. But they did. They didn't have to. It seems odd to demonize Dreyers for buying something that was offered for sale.

Dreyers ruined it | 11:37 a.m. Feb. 21, 2008

After Dreyers bought Snelgrove they watered down the ice cream, thus ruining the brand themselves. Just like Piccadilly did years ago with their clam chowder. Dreyers is just another profiteering firm. They could have made loyal customers of the whole country with the Snelgrove's brand; instead, they wrecked it themselves. Stupid.

Dreyers is bad business | 12:04 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

"Ruined it" is right. Dreyers did the typical dumb thing profiteers do: Buy a great brand, water it down while keeping the premium price,hope the consumer doesn't notice, and then they're SO sorry and surprised when it tanks. Stupid indeed.

Big Money always wins | 12:19 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

Big money and big profits is all Dreyers wants. Snelgroves was just a local brand and when Dreyers couldn't sell anymore then usual...GOODBYE locals!!! Just another example of BIG Corporate America taking over and undercutting locally made products, because their bottom line didn't increase. And just think how much more CO2 is going into the air now that your ice cream has to be shipped from out-of-state.

JDS | 12:27 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

No!!!!!! Snelgroves Burnt Almond Fudge is the best! It's sitting in my freezer right now half way eated! I will truly miss it, but not the calorie intake!

Yum Yum Yum | 12:36 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

Remember as a kid getting to go to Snelgroves for a cone. Still love it, too bad. If there weren't enough flavors wouldn't it been easy to make more flavors. Duh!

The Plastic Monkey | 12:45 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

Remember the little plastic monkey that would hold the cherry on top of the cone?

So many memories and connections.

It may be "linked to a generation," but there are as many of us weeping alive as there are turning over in their graves -- this could trigger the resurrection! Or at least a run on freezers.

My "keeper" vote is for Canadian Vanilla.

Blondie | 12:46 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

I have an Aunt that is a Snelgrove! If you look at it, things come and go. We evolve all the time,it's time to change. You guys loved the parlor on 21st so much it shut down in 2002! For those that are claiming you don't know what you will do? Keep doing what you have been. Remember the memories!!! Make new ones!!! You have missing the yummy treats and ice cream for almost 7 years!!! So keep doing what you are doing, you will all be fine. I am not even an Ice Cream Lover!!! But if you are going to eat it! Think quality that tastes good and it's better for you!!! Think SLOWCHURN!!! THINK DREYERS!!! Make new memories........ The Future!!!

UTWoodsman | 1:13 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

You're right, Scott. They changed the recipes when Dreyers took over. No great mystery why their market share tanked after that. Laird brought ice cream recipes and techniques back from Argentina, where he served his mission, if memory serves (nothing beats Argentine ice cream). It also irks me that they followed others in the market who'd moved to the 1.75-quart "trick" containers but didn't lower prices. I only buy ice cream in half-gallon containers (my own little private protest to vendors who think consumers are stupid enough not to notice...). Canadian Vanilla used to be my favorite flavor until Dreyers took over--now it's Costco's Kirkland Signature Vanilla (still in half-gallons)...yum!!

verySad | 1:26 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

For the past four years I have tried food after food since experiencing gluten intolerance as well as being allergic to nuts, nightshade vegetables (tomatoes, potatoes), shellfish, celery, and onion. Snelgroves Canadian Vanilla is the ONLY packaged food I have been able to eat. I wish Dreyers could possibly reconsider. They have no idea what a marketing gem they have here.

Julian | 1:37 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

Snelgroves made a flavor called Banana Bavarian the was great and I have never seen it anywhere else.

Okie | 2:04 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

I have been to Utah many many times and have enjoyed the Snelgroves ice cream. And I have eaten Breyers and dreyers ice cream and they are not my cup of ice cream. But if you want great ice cream come to the middle of the country and get some BRAUMS ICE CREAM. It is the BEST. And their milk is just great also. So, if coming to the plains and just driving through find a Braums and have a cone or what ever and you will know what I am talking about. When our kids visit from UTAH, They want to to go to Braums. And they have great hamburgers too. Here is a happy Welcome to the Plains.

Donald | 2:06 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

I used to eat Snelgroves to take away my desire to drink alcohol. Now I have no choice but to stop eating ice cream, hence lose weight and drink occasionally.

AgentG | 2:40 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

Oh no, no more Snowgwoves (as my older son used to call it when he was a toddler). Seems like there aren't any more real ice cream parlors anymore, where you can sit down and have a fancy ice cream sundae. Thanks for the fond memories, Snelgroves.

I Scream (For Joy) | 2:47 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

Snelgroves? More like Snelgross.

In the Snel-GROOVE!!! | 3:01 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

Snelzz (that's what I call it) was radical to the max. I wish they would stay around so I could eat their delicious ice cream product. Must all sweet good things pass on? Sigh.

From Wisconsin | 3:18 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

I've lived all over the world, and Snelgroves had the best ice cream that I've ever eaten. Nothing compares to the Snelgroves ice cream from years ago.

WyoTex | 3:35 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

Used to visit grandmother in Sugarhouse. Sure miss that donut shop, Dees hamburgers and Snelgroves ice cream.

Everything in moderation, I guess. Donuts and hamburgers made me fat.

Snelgroves was good ice crease; for great ice cream, Blue Bell hits the spot.

russ | 4:01 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

A few years ago I had the pleasure of taking my wife to Snelgrove's in SLC. It is so sad to see something so good move on.

It was all good.

Henry | 4:21 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

I have fond memories of going with my family to get a Saturday night ice cream cone at Snelgroves 21st South store in the late 1940s and early 1950s. I moved to the east coast in 1999 and I read about Snelgroves closing their ice cream parlors. Salt Lake City will not seem the same if I can't buy ice cream at Snelgroves. Ir's like losing a good friend.

Mark | 4:23 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

It is a fact the Snelgroves is better than Dreyers. No doubt. Canadian Vanilla rules. Nothing like it.
I'm diabetic so just missing an occasional dalliance won't be too bad. For you others, I feel your pain.

Matthew | 4:35 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

The MBAs strike again!

Annie | 4:47 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

I grew up with the Snelgrove family and will always have great memories of birthday parties, weekends and any other time we were down at the 21st south shop. It will be missed but has not been the same since dryers took over. The best thing of all was the people who owned and loved it. Grandpa Snelgrove is greatly missed.

Franky | 5:01 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

doug - "Red Mango aithentic yogurt is the new icecream of the west."

Thanks for the laugh. A yogurt franchise from the east is the new ice cream of the west. I can't stop giggling

Rich Hardy | 5:43 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

This breaks my heart. I remember many birthdays (large family) with one HUGE bowl of every luscious flavor of ice cream and every topping imaginable, that the whole group would dive into; enough for an army, as memory has it. But even a cone was so much more of a treat than 'store-brands'. Surely, somebody will resurrect the double-cone sign. I only wish they could truly recreate the ice cream and the whole Snelgrove experience for generations to come. A Snelgrove's lover since at least 1951.

cldstar, I'll tell them: | 6:52 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

Hey Dryer's, keep making Bear Lake Raspberry and the Pralines and Carmel.

There.

As long as someone, anyone keeps making some mix of fat and sugar for me to gorge myself on, I will be happy. Rest in peace, Snelgrove brand.

I have a Daddy Doug's to get working on.

waaaaaaaaaahhh!! | 8:55 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

i i'll cry every time i think of snelgroves i go there almost every day! Good buy my dear snelgroves I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

snelgrove | 8:52 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

it was charles snelgrove that founded the company not laird snelgrove

Tracy | 9:57 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

My son is very upset by this news. He eats a bowl of Canadian Chocolate every night. He will not eat any other kind. I don't know what he will do. Please don't close it.

Barb Monroe WA | 10:48 p.m. Feb. 21, 2008

Okay, you can go on line to Blue Bell and they will ship you ice cream.Still sorry to read no more Snelgrove.

Mark Snelgrove | 12:41 a.m. Feb. 22, 2008

Yes, Snelgrove really IS my middle name. As much as I loved and appreciated the hard work of my Uncle Laird, he was not the founder of Snelgrove's. It was my grandfather, Charles Rich Snelgrove, who started the company in June 1929, just before the Great Depression. It's a great story of hard work and perseverance. My mother and all her siblings worked in the store. Prior to Dreyer's taking over, the ice cream was called "Snelgrove's Distinctive Ice Cream". The original recipes were developed personally by C.R., my favorite being Chocolate Parfait. Treasured memories from my youth are of Grandpa taking the grandkids into the closed store on Sunday night and making us each an especially generous cone of our choosing. I don't live in Utah anymore and future visits to the area won't be quite the same without this special tie to my heritage.

Steve - Ben & Jerry's is Best | 12:05 p.m. Feb. 22, 2008

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Ben & Jerry's icecream. Very smooth icecream. I think it's better than Dreyers AND Breyers, the problem is it's quite expensive and only comes in those small containers.

Ben & Jerry's really should start offering at least half-gallon sizes and lower the cost on all products otherwise a half-gallon or gallon would be outrageous in price. If they'd lower the cost and increase the size offerings they'd see a sharp increase in their sales (more would be bought and make up for the loss in cost cuts).

B and J Lover (NOT) | 12:49 p.m. Feb. 23, 2008

Perhaps nobody has mentioned Ben and Jerry's ice cream(?) because it doesn't even deserve to be mentioned in comparison with Snelgrove's or even mass-produced commercial brands. It seems to appeal to an over-the-hill hippee demographic, like its founders, not from any intrinsic merit of the product. Snelgrove's forever, if only in memory!

Sheryl | 2:08 p.m. Feb. 24, 2008

I grew up in the Sugarhouse area in the 50's & 60'. Snelgrove's was the place to go for a treat. Their Chocolate Parfait and Lime Sherbet were the BEST. Snellies was always a treat that was looked forward to after any church event. The drinking fountain was pretty neat, but what a great date place, booths, good friends and great ice cream. Can't be beat! Keep the sign.

not happy | 4:09 p.m. Feb. 24, 2008

I buy dreyer's from time to time not becasue it is good, but because there aren't much better.

Snelgrove's Burnt Almond Fudge was a one of a kind gem, not other BAF ever, every compared, and I will not forgive Dreyer's for ruining the brand, and certainly not if they stop manufacturing Snelgrove's BAF.

Word of Wisdom | 10:04 a.m. Feb. 25, 2008

It would help destroy the obesity problem in Utah if we just got rid of Ice Cream period! Or at least cut down. I happen to one of the very few LDS people in Utah with a refrigerator not full of ice cream. I already have a weight problem and don't need the Ice Cream to add a few more extra pounds I don't need. I just need to get rid of the donuts and I will be fine. I guess I find the weather so cold in this state I really don't need the ice cream.

Didn't buy enough | 3:33 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

Dreyers Seldom put snelgrove's on sale so people didn't buy enough. WHOLE almonds in snelgrove Burnt almond fudge where else can you get that? Still if I don't like what's on sale I don't buy ice cream. Dreyers was on sale somewhere every month. They are just a consolidator unlike Farr, who was smart enough to keep the Russell's product line name after acquiring them.

bye snelgrove. | 4:16 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

It's the end of an era......keep the memories and enjoy the fact that your children and grandchildren will never appreciate what were your realities.

Maltedmilk best | 7:46 p.m. Feb. 26, 2008

50 years experience says their Malted milk ice cream (discontinued years back) was the best ever, especially with the hot rum topping and nuts they served in the sugarhouse store. I dreamt of it often. Burnt almond fudge runs a distant second and will be missed by me also! Alas, too many carbs anyway, as I no longer can eat ice cream.

Aundie | 10:33 p.m. Feb. 28, 2008

PLEASE KEEP THE BURNT ALMOND FUDGE! It is the BEST flavor of ice cream as was the Raspberry Cheescake. How committed to the Snelgrove label was Dreyers? How could the Snelgrove brand compete with a product that is made cheaply and tastes cheap too! One things for sure, there isn't an ice cream product that matches the texture and flavor of Snelgroves brand. No it isn't Haagen Dazs or Ben and Jerry's, but it was a great contender for its class of ice cream. It is a SHAME Dreyers competed with it's own brand with inferior flavor. Sadder still, people will eat some crappy store brand ice cream - for 2.99 a 1/2 gallon rather than 4.99 on premium ice cream! I'll miss the era of Snelgroves - I hope the legacy will continue.

sunny | 7:28 p.m. March 2, 2008

Thank you Snelgrove's for many years of making the highest quality ice cream. I have happy memories of going to the 21st ice cream parlor to laugh away the pain of the "shot lady" (immunizations), after being at the doctor's office . Later memories were of dates and more recent honey-date-nights or family night treats. You always had a very good feeling at that ice cream parlor. Thanks for hosting events such as the Geneology Conference in the Salt Palace in the '80's

All my family knows that Snelgrove's Burnt Almond Fudge ice cream is my favorite, necessary at my birthday 40+, Mother's day, after General Priesthood for the ice cream party, or even instead of surprise flowers!

Dear Dryers, will you please compare Snelgrove's Burnt Almond Ice Cream with other brands and then please continue this flavor. It truly does have a different, more delicious and distinctive flavor. To not have it again is compared to never tasting the flavor of a real orange ever again.
Thank you.

Hoopie | 3:33 p.m. March 4, 2008

Please, please, please keep the Bear Lake Rasberry!

plumness | 4:47 p.m. March 6, 2008

Actually, I think it's called Mountain Lake Rasberry, and not Bear Lake---or are there two with similar names? Whatever----please, please keep it!

anon | 4:46 p.m. March 6, 2008

MOUNTAIN LAKE RASBERRY IS THE BEST!!

Former SLC resident | 7:43 p.m. July 16, 2008

They were all good, but my favorite from little kid days on was peppermint chocolate spray. Whenever I passed through SLC over the years since I moved away I always made it a point to stop off at the 21st South St. store. The automatic light-beam door opener was also very fascinating to little kids in the 50s.

Karin | 2:00 p.m. Nov. 5, 2008

I would love to have Snelgroves receipe for Peppermint Chocolate Spray and Burnt Almond fudge ice cream. Since Dryers has discontinued the best flavors it would wonderful to make my own. I have tried Dryers and it doesn't come even close to Snelgroves. Dryers it not only mediocre, but the cartons are smaller. Anyone notice?

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Four-year-old Zachary Allen, left, and Caleb Rogers, 5, slurp up ice cream during a contest at Snelgrove Ice Cream in September 2003. The event was held to celebrate Snelgrove's 75th anniversary.