Kemps® Hometown Favorites Ice Cream Contest

Did you know that Kemps® is a local brand?  I didn't.  I totally thought it was a national brand. Kemps® products are made right here in Minnesota and are sold in Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin, Iowa and the Dakotas.  Their frozen yogurt, however, is also sold throughout the Southeast.  In 2011, Kemps® started the Hometown Favorites Ice Cream Contest as a way to remind people that they are hometown produced.

This contest allows you to dream up your own ice cream flavor with the chance to see it on store shelves in the future!  It doesn't hurt that you could also win $2500!  Last year the contest generated more than 250 submissions with even more expected this year.  Here's how it works:

Now through June 7:  Submit your dream flavor  (You only have a week left!)--Submit your dream flavor, inspired by your family traditions.  What flavors remind you of your family traditions?  Think outside the box people...make it unique!

**Hundreds of submissions will be narrowed down by Kemps® and their marketing agency over the next 7 days.  They will choose 10 semi-finalists based on uniqueness, flavor combinations, how closely the flavor fits the family traditions theme, back story of the flavor, how feasible it is to actually make the flavor (hint: real pickle pieces won't work with ice cream because of the acidity), and other factors. 

June 14-June 30:  Vote for the finalists--The top 10 flavors will be posted online on June 14 where you can vote to help determine the top two flavors.  The third finalist will be chosen by Joe and Teresa Mauer.

August 1:  Vote for the winner--Vote online for the flavor you think is most interesting.  

**From August 1-August 21, Logan Julstrom (Kemps® Senior Food Technologist) will be working closely with the three finalists to perfect their recipes then Kemps® will actually make the ice creams so that...

August 22-September 2:  Sample the flavors at the Minnesota State Fair--Yup, you can actually try these flavors and vote on them at the 2013 MN State Fair!

**The winner will be selected by a combination of online votes, State Fair votes, and scores from a celebrity judging panel including Teresa Mauer.

August 28--2013 Hometown Favorites winner announced.  The winning flavor hits the market the following summer.

The 2011 winner was Land of 10,000 Licks.  This ice cream combines sweet cream ice cream with caramel, sea salt, and toffee pieces for the perfect sweet and salty treat.  I kid you not, I could not stop eating this flavor once I started.  The first bite is a bit salty but then the sweetness takes over and you are hooked

Last year's 2012 winner was Mini-sota Donut.  I was able to pre-sample this flavor when I got a tour of the Kemps® factory (another post to come).  Yum is all I can say!  Cinnamon and nutmeg combined with real donut pieces!  

What are you waiting for?  Submit your dream flavor today!  You might just find it on the store shelves next year!!  

I was given a tour of the Kemps® factory and swag as compensation for helping to promote the Hometown Favorites Contest.  All opinions are 100% my own.