Brunswick-based The Gelato Fiasco wins $5,000 in national business competition, appeals to public to help win grand prize at gelatofiasco.com/contest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 20, 2009

CONTACT:

Joshua Davis, Co-Owner and General Manager, The Gelato Fiasco, josh@gelatofiasco.com
Bobby Guerette, Marketing and Public Affairs Consultant, The Gelato Fiasco, bobby@gelatofiasco.com

Brunswick-based The Gelato Fiasco wins $5,000 in national business competition, appeals to public to help win grand prize at gelatofiasco.com/contest

BRUNSWICK – The Gelato Fiasco, the Maine-owned creator of authentic gelato products, has been awarded a $5,000 grant in a national business contest sponsored by Intuit, maker of the popular QuickBooks accounting software. The Gelato Fiasco now moves to the contest’s final round, where it needs the community’s help to compete for the $25,000 grand prize award.

The company received the first award based on a story that was submitted by owners Joshua Davis, 26, and Bruno Tropeano, 25. The company is one of 50 selected nationally. The final stage of the contest is based on a viral video that the owners produced at the Brunswick flagship store.

“We received this award based on rankings made by the public – including people right here in Brunswick – and a team of professional judges,” said Davis. “We’re gratified that so many people appreciated the philosophy we live by at The Gelato Fiasco.”

Any Maine resident can log onto www.gelatofiasco.com/contest to view The Gelato Fiasco’s four-minute viral video and vote for it to win the grand prize. A major portion of the video’s final score depends on these rankings. Voting ends May 31.

“We intend to use the grant money to expand the reach of The Gelato Fiasco throughout the state and beyond,” Davis said. “This award is good for The Gelato Fiasco, and it’s good for the economy of Maine.”

In recent months, The Gelato Fiasco has expanded wholesale operations and now offers pints and fresh-scooped gelato at nearly 20 grocery stores and restaurants from Biddeford to Belfast. It continues to create and sell 30 flavors daily at its flagship store in Brunswick.

“By providing a great product, backing it up with first-rate service, and receiving a little luck, we’ve been able to continue our expansion through these trying economic times,” Davis said. “We’re grateful to our customers for their intense loyalty.”

The company has expanded its online marketing efforts through the Intuit promotion and others. It has made expanded use of Facebook fan page capabilities, with more than 700 total fans, and invites customers to provide feedback on Twitter at twitter.com/gelatofiasco.

ATTENTION EDITORS: Intuit’s news release for the contest can be read at http://about.intuit.com/about_intuit/press_room/press_release/articles/2009/IntuitInvitesAmericatoVote.html.

ABOUT THE GELATO FIASCO: Founded in 2007, The Gelato Fiasco is a privately held retail and wholesale creator of unique artisanal gelato and sorbetto products. All gelati and sorbetti is made from scratch at the company’s creation kitchen at its Brunswick, Maine, flagship store. The brand is also available at more than a dozen reseller locations in Maine, including Whole Foods Market, Portland; Walter’s, Portland; Bow Street Market, Freeport; A-1 Diner, Gardiner; and Brackett’s Market, Bath. The Gelato Fiasco strongly believes in supporting local organizations and taking part in activities that enhance the communities it serves. It is located online at www.gelatofiasco.com.

# # #