Dreyer’s New Formulas Destroyed in Fire

Dreyer’s new line of ice cream flavors for 1989 melted away when the company’s research headquarters were destroyed in a $200,000 fire.

The three-alarm blaze Monday destroyed records, files, computers, computer disks, two freezers filled with ice cream and the company’s ice cream flavor department. Its cause has not been determined. There were no injuries.

Dan Connolly, director of research and development, said he now has to start from scratch in developing the ice cream flavors.

“I hope that enough of it is in my brain, which is where it all started,” Connolly said. “A good portion of it--the formulas and the processes--is irreplaceable.”

Dreyer’s has 56 flavors of ice cream, which are sold through supermarkets and other food stores in 32 states.

Company officials say it is one of the top three ice cream firms in the country in terms of sales.

The Oakland-based firm said the fire will not interrupt production and distribution at its main factory, which was undamaged in the blaze despite being next door to the research headquarters.

Dreyer’s usually introduces seven new flavors each year. Its flavor team had whittled the potential 1989 flavors from 100 to about 25 when the fire occurred, but the complex formulas from which the new flavors would have been chosen were destroyed in the blaze.