Mister Softee facts for kids

Mister Softee, Inc. is a famous American company. It is best known for its ice cream trucks. These trucks sell delicious soft-serve ice cream. The company started in 1956 and is based in Runnemede, New Jersey. You can often hear their special jingle playing as their trucks drive by!

The History of Mister Softee

Mister Softee Inc. was started in 1956. Two brothers, William and James Conway, founded it in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1958, the company moved its main office to Runnemede, New Jersey.

Mister Softee grew to be one of the biggest sellers of soft ice cream in the United States. They have about 350 business owners, called franchisees. These owners operate around 625 ice cream trucks. You can find these trucks in 18 different states! Around 1999, the sons of William and James, John P. Conway and Jim Conway, Jr., took over the family business.

Mister Softee Goes to China

A Mister Softee ice cream truck in Ma On Shan, Hong Kong, 2008

Did you know Mister Softee once had trucks in China? In 2007, a man named Turner Sparks launched a Mister Softee business in Suzhou, China. He started with just one truck. Turner was roommates with Alex Conway, who is Jim Conway, Jr.'s son. Alex helped Turner bring Mister Softee to China.

Five years later, Turner's business had ten trucks and 25 employees. He even planned to expand across eastern China! Mister Softee China had a special menu. It mixed classic American ice cream treats like shakes and sundaes. But it also added new Chinese flavors. These included green tea ice cream and red bean ice cream. They also offered kiwifruit sundaes and milk tea floats.

Unlike in America, Mister Softee China also had small shops called kiosks. These were in busy downtown areas. The trucks mostly served suburban neighborhoods and business districts. However, Mister Softee stopped its operations in China in 2016.

The Famous Mister Softee Jingle

Mister Softee mascot and official truck at an event in Tampa, Florida

The music you hear from Mister Softee trucks is very famous. It sounds like a music box. This tune was created by a man named Les Waas. He called it "Jingle and Chimes." Les Waas created almost 1,000 jingles in his life! The melody is based on an older song from 1905 called "The Whistler and His Dog."

Here are the words to the "Jingle and Chimes" song: "Jingle and Chimes" (lyrics) – E♭ major, "jaunty" 6
8 time
Intro

• Here comes Mister Softee
• The soft ice cream man.

1st verse

• The creamiest dreamiest soft ice cream,
• You get from Mister Softee
• For a refreshing delight supreme
• Look for Mister Softee

2nd verse

• My milkshakes and my sundaes and my cones are such a treat
• Listen for my store on wheels ding-a-ling down the street

3rd verse

• The creamiest, dreamiest soft ice cream
• You get from Mister Softee
• For a refreshing delight supreme
• Look for Mister Softee

Coda

• S–O–F–T double–E, Mister Softee.

In 2002, Michael Bloomberg, who was the Mayor of New York, tried to reduce city noise. This included the jingles from ice cream trucks, especially the Mister Softee jingle. In 2005, after many people and city council members disagreed, he found a solution. Instead of banning the jingles, he allowed trucks to play them only while they were moving.

Protecting the Mister Softee Name

Mister Softee works hard to protect its name and jingle. This is called defending their trademark. A trademark is like a special sign or sound that belongs only to one company.

For example, in 2014, a former Mister Softee franchisee started a new ice cream company. He called it "Master Softee Inc." and even used Mister Softee's jingle. Mister Softee sued him. The court decided that the former franchisee had broken his agreement and used Mister Softee's trademark unfairly.

Mister Softee's vice president, Jim Conway, explained why this is important. He said, "For 58 years we've spent our time, energy, and money developing brands. We're one of the most recognized brands." He added that protecting their trademark helps not only the company but also the small, family-owned businesses that operate Mister Softee trucks.

Doug Quattlebaum: The Softee Man Blues

In 1961, a blues musician named Doug Quattlebaum was "re-discovered." He was playing popular songs and blues music through the speaker of his Mister Softee ice cream van. A historian who found musical talent in unusual places, Pete Welding, heard him. He helped Doug record an album.

The album was called Softee Man Blues (1963). On the front cover, there was a picture of Doug Quattlebaum wearing his ice cream uniform!

See also

• Good Humor
• Jack and Jill Ice Cream