Mister Softee
2825280
224861464
2008-07-10T19:10:14Z
67.99.190.82
/* Mister Softee in film */
{{Infobox_Company |
company_name = Mister Softee |
company_logo = [[Image:Mister Softee.jpg]]|
company_type = [[Private company]] |
company_slogan = Bringing the Very Best to Families since 1956|
foundation = [[1956]] in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]|
location = [[Runnemede, New Jersey]], [[United States]] |
key people = [[William Conway (businessman)|William Conway]], [[James Conway (businessman)|James Conway]] founders |
industry = [[Ice cream]] |
products = [[Ice cream]] |
homepage = http://www.mistersoftee.com/<br>
http://www.mistersofteeny.com/
}}
'''Mister Softee''' is a [[United States]]-based ice cream truck [[franchising|franchisor]] popular in the Northeast. It was founded by [[William Conway (businessman)|William]] and [[James Conway (businessman)|James Conway]] (Oct. 30, 1927 - May 28, 2006) <ref name="James Conway Sr., 78, a Founder of Mister Softee, Dies">{{citeweb|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/31/nyregion/31conway.html|title=James Conway Sr., 78, a Founder of Mister Softee, Dies|accessdate=2006-05-31}}</ref> in [[1956]] in [[Philadelphia]]. It is the largest franchisor of [[Soft_serve|soft]] [[ice cream]] in the United States. It has about 350 franchisees operating 600 trucks in 15 states. The company is headquartered in [[Runnemede, New Jersey]]. It is still run by the Conway family; [[James Conway, Jr.]] is now President.
==Mister Softee Jingle==
The jingle played by Mister Softee trucks is instrumental and created in 1960 by Les Waas <ref name="Les Waas">{{citeweb|url=http://www.broadcastpioneers.com/waas.html|title=Les Waas|accessdate=2007-10-11}}</ref>, but according to the New York Times, the lyrics are as follows:
: "The creamiest, dreamiest soft ice cream,
: You get from Mister Softee.
: For a refreshing delight supreme,
: Look for Mister Softee.
: Milkshakes and my sundaes and cones are such a treat,
: Listen for my store on wheels, ding-a-ling down the street.
: The creamiest, dreamiest soft ice cream,
: You get from Mister Softee.
: For a refreshing delight supreme,
: Look for Mister Softee.
: S-O-F-T Double 'E', Mister Softee."
It is written in E-flat major with 6/8 time. In New York City, the trucks can only play the jingle while moving, to reduce noise <ref name="That Jingle Of Mr. Softee's? It's the Sound Of Compromise">{{citeweb|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/14/nyregion/31conway.html|title=That Jingle Of Mr. Softee's? It's the Sound Of Compromise|accessdate=2005-12-14}}</ref>.
A copy of the sheet music and all the words can be found on the Mister Softee [http://www.mistersoftee.com/music.html webpage].
==Mister Softee in China==
In 2007 Mister Softee established its first ice cream truck and ice cream shop in Mainland China located in Suzhou, Jiangsu. [http://www.mistersofteechina.com/ Mister Softee China]is operated by Alex Conway, grandson of James Conway, and Turner Sparks. In 2008 Mister Softee China plans to begin expanding its core business and franchising throughout China's eastern region.
Mister Softee China has created a menu that combines its classic American products of shakes, floats and sundaes with new Chinese products such as green tea ice cream, red bean ice cream, kiwi sundaes and milk tea floats.
The key to Mister Softee's success in China has been its ability to adapt its product to local tastes while maintaining a strong connection to the strong traditions of the Mister Softee brand. Mister Softee China prides itself on ability and desire to bring the best of high-quality American ice cream to the Chinese people.
While its American counterpart operates almost exclusively with trucks, Mister Softee China has kiosks in downtown shopping areas and trucks throughout China's ever expanding suburban neighborhoods and business districts.
==Mister Softee in Hong Kong==
{|style="background:transparent" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right
|-
|[[Image:Mister_Softee_HK1.jpg|thumb|200px|A Mister Softee ice cream truck parked at the [[Star Ferry]] pier, [[Central, Hong Kong|Central]]. The trucks at the Central and [[Tsim Sha Tsui]] Star Ferry piers are more or less stationed.]]
[[Image:Mister_Softee_HK2.jpg|thumb|200px|The somewhat faded menu of Mister Softee.]]
|}
Mister Softee is also popular in [[Hong Kong]]. In Hong Kong, Mister Softee ([[Traditional Chinese character|Chinese]]: 富豪雪糕), owned by the Ng Enterprises Ltd., consists of a number of [[ice cream truck]]s. The red-white-blue outlook of the trucks, and the ''[[The Blue Danube|Blue Danube]]'' played by them, are part of the [[collective memory]] of many Hong Kongers.
The first truck, which had been imported from [[England]], began to operate in 1970. Today the company has 14 ice cream vans running on [[Hong Kong Island]], [[Kowloon]] and the [[New Territories]]. The headquarters of the company is located in [[Fo Tan]].
As the [[Hong Kong Government]] has stopped the issue of new [[hawker (trade)|hawking]] licenses since 1978, and the existing licenses cannot be transferred to other vehicles, the old trucks are still running on the roads of Hong Kong. Each van, as required by the law, comprises a soft ice cream making machine, a basin, and two [[refrigerator]]s.
The trucks sell only four products:
*[[soft ice cream]] ([[vanilla]] is the only flavour, though the cone is made of [[chocolate]])
*[[nut (fruit)|nut]]ty [[drumstick (ice cream)|drumstick]]
*Large Cups (Chinese: 蓮花杯 "[[Nelumbo nucifera|lotus]] cups")
*Jumbo Orange (Chinese: 珍寶橙冰), a kind of [[sherbet (U.S.)|sherbet]]).
The red-white-blue vans also began to be seen in [[Shanghai]] in 1994, and number to 18 as in August 2005.
==Mister Softee in film==
* A Mister Softee truck driven by Gail ([[Catherine O'Hara]]) was a key device in the [[Martin Scorsese]] film ''[[After Hours (film)|After Hours]]''.
* Mister Softee was also referenced in [[Eddie Murphy]]'s stand-up comedy film, ''[[Eddie Murphy Delirious|Delirious]]''. During a skit about ice cream, Murphy recites the famous Mister Softee jingle.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==See also==
* [[Good Humor]]
* [[Jack and Jill Ice Cream]]
==External links==
* [http://www.mistersoftee.com/ Mister Softee website].
* [http://www.mistersofteeny.com/ Mister Softee in NY].
* [http://www.mistersofteeflorida.com/ Mister Softee of Southwest Florida website].
* [http://www.electrofreeze.com/index.htm Electro Freeze]
* [http://esopusmag.com/files/ARCHIVE_FLASH/4/SOFTSERVE/ Article about Ice Cream Truck Music]
* [http://www.mistersofteechina.com/ Mister Softee China]
[[Category:Catering and food service companies of Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Ice cream brands]]
[[Category:Hong Kong cuisine]]
[[Category:Franchises]]
[[Category:Family businesses]]
[[Category:Companies based in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1956]]
[[zh:富豪雪糕]]