Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams has set a date to reopen following a listeria outbreak that forced them to close all stores in April.
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams has set a date to reopen following a listeria outbreak that forced them to close all stores in April.
The ice cream company announced Thursday it will reopen its shops May 22 at 7 p.m., just in time for Memorial Day weekend.
Jeni's closed all stores and recalled all retail products April 23 after listeria was discovered in some pints and later in the factory. Last week, the company released a statement saying it traced the source of listeria to a spout on its pint-filling machine at the Ohio production facility.
The ice cream shops will open with their signature "Salty Caramel" ice cream and other flavors, but some of the usuals will not be available right away because the ice cream makers must start from scratch.
A new limited-edition flavor will debut for the reopening: "Sun-Popped Corn," made from organic BjornQorn, which is popped by the heat of the sun.
In a statement on their website, owner Jeni Britton Bauer said the transition back to business has been difficult.
"It's been a bumpy road getting back up, and there were times we didn't think we were going to make it," Bauer said. "As a result, we have a new appreciation for life. The feeling today and going forward is a genuine gratefulness just to be here, doing what we do."
