Score Big on Game Day with Friendly's Premium Football Ice Cream Cake

WILBRAHAM, Md., Sept. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Friendly's Ice Cream, LLC, the operator of 355 Friendly's restaurants and a manufacturer of ice cream products distributed in over 7,500 retail outlets, in conjunction with The Hershey Company, is introducing a new, limited edition Premium Football Ice Cream Cake that provides the ultimate game day treat for football fanatics, families and friends. Handmade at Friendly's creamery in Wilbraham, Mass., this decadent dessert boasts rich and creamy peanut butter ice cream laced with swirls of crushed Reese's® Peanut Butter Cups. Hand-dipped in Friendly's rich chocolate truffle coating and topped with chocolaty crunchies, the cake is decorated with whipped icing in the form of authentic football stitching.

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Perfect for fall and football gatherings of any size, Friendly's Premium Football Ice Cream Cake easily serves 8 to 10 guests. Since 1935, Friendly's has maintained a reputation for serving great tasting ice creams and remains an industry leader by offering consumers and guests an array of high quality products made with all-natural flavors.

"The marrying of Reese's® iconic Peanut Butter Cups and Friendly's handcrafted ice cream served in the form of a football is an example of how we continuously build upon our longstanding ice cream roots with new, innovative combinations and presentations that are as delicious as they are appealing to the eye," said Zeynep Akkan, Sr. Marketing Manager for Friendly's retail products. "Friendly's is an iconic ice cream brand, and while we've enjoyed much success with other ice cream cake products, we know our guests and retail customers are always looking for fun, festive presentations that fit popular seasonal occasions and celebrations."

In addition to the new ice cream cake, Friendly's longstanding partnership with The Hershey Company has resulted in an array of extremely popular, co-branded ice cream treats. "We are very excited to partner with The Hershey Company again this year. Our Reese's® Peanut Butter Cup ice cream cake, as well as the Reese's® Peanut Butter Cup and Reese's® Pieces® Sundae Cups are very popular with consumers and we feel this new cake will become a hit with families during football season," notes Akkan.

Friendly's Premium Football Ice Cream Cake is now available for purchase in all Friendly's restaurants and on retailer shelves in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as well as in select outlets in Virginia, Maryland and Florida, and retails for $14.99 per package.

About Friendly's Ice Cream, LLC
Friendly's Ice Cream, LLC is a vertically integrated restaurant company, with an iconic brand name, serving signature sandwiches, burgers and ice cream desserts in a friendly, family environment.  Together with its broad franchisee base, the company has system-wide sales of over $550 million and distribution through over 7,500 retail locations.  For 78 years, Friendly's restaurants and dedicated service teams have delighted generations of guests.  For the future, Friendly's has plans for new food and ice cream products, enhanced buildings, and new service channels.  For additional information please visit www.friendlys.com.

About The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) is the largest producer of quality chocolate in North America and a global leader in chocolate and sugar confectionery. Headquartered in Hershey, Pa., The Hershey Company has operations throughout the world and approximately 14,000 employees.

With revenues of more than $6.6 billion, Hershey offers confectionery products under more than 80 brand names, including such iconic brands as Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, Hershey's Bliss, Hershey's Special Dark, Kit Kat, Twizzlers, Jolly Rancher and Ice Breakers.  The company is focused on growing its presence in key international markets such as China, Mexico and Brazil while continuing to build its competitive advantage in the United States and Canada.

For more than 100 years, The Hershey Company has been a leader in making a positive difference in the communities where its employees live, work and do business. Corporate Social Responsibility is an integral part of the company's global business strategy, which includes goals and priorities focused on fair and ethical business dealings, environmental stewardship, fostering a desirable workplace for employees, and positively impacting society and local communities. Milton Hershey School, established in 1909 by the company's founder and funded by a trust administered by Hershey Trust Company, provides a quality education, housing, and medical care at no cost to children in social and financial need. Students of Milton Hershey School are direct beneficiaries of The Hershey Company's success.

SOURCE Friendly's Ice Cream, LLC