SEARCY, Ark. (AP) — A federal bankruptcy judge has signed off on the $1.3 million sale of Searcy-based Yarnell's Ice Cream to Schulze & Burch Biscuit Co.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge James Mixon signed the order Monday confirming the sale of Yarnell's to the Chicago-based snack manufacturer. The order confirms the sale of Yarnell's and its property in Searcy, as well as the company's trademarks and recipes.
Schulze & Burch makes toaster pastries and granola bars and already operates a plant in Searcy.
Searcy Mayor David Morris told The Daily Citizen (http://is.gd/iSQL8f ) he's pleased with the sale and hopes that former Yarnell's workers could be put back to work soon.
"We are tickled to death that Schulze & Burch purchased the plant because they already have a good footprint in the city," he said.
Searcy Chamber of Commerce President Buck Layne said the approval of the sale has been a long time coming for the business community.
"I was very excited to hear the news," Layne said. "We have been anxiously waiting for the order to be signed by the judge. The company can now move forward with their plans to reopen the plant."
Yarnell's halted production in June and declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy in August. The company laid off 200 workers and shut its doors after nearly 80 years in business because of a decline in ice cream sales and rising food and fuel prices.
Yarnell's was known for its Arkansas-inspired ice cream, including University of Arkansas Razorback themed offerings such as "Woo Pig Chewy" and "Hog Wild for Cookie Dough." In 2005, the company named its mint-chip ice cream for then-Gov. Mike Huckabee: "Hucka, Hucka Burnin Love."