At his suggestion, the company was renamed Blue Bell Creameries in 1930 after Kruse's favorite wildflower the Texas bluebell, which, like ice cream, thrives during the summer.

[10] In 1989, Blue Bell began selling its ice cream in Oklahoma, and throughout the 1990s expansion pushed throughout the South Central and Southern United States, eventually expanding to New Orleans and Jackson, Mississippi.

[5] Four years later, in 1996, Blue Bell opened a third manufacturing facility in Sylacauga, Alabama, southeast of Birmingham, and eventually expanded into Atlanta and Miami.

Having implemented new factory cleanup procedures and pursuant to agreements with state and federal authorities, the company restored limited production three months later, returning its products to the market on August 31 in portions of Texas and Alabama as part of a five-phase plan to recapture much of its pre-recall distribution territory, which had been reduced to 21 states based on Blue Bell's limited distribution capabilities in the near term.

In 2018, children of an interracial family posted an open letter on Facebook addressed to Blue Bell asking that the flavor "The Great Divide" (equal halves of chocolate and vanilla ice cream) be changed to "Better Together".

[17] These incidents resulted in severe negative reactions asserting that violating food in such a manner is dangerous to the public health, along with criticisms that no action was taken to punish any offenders, and against Blue Bell for not protecting their ice cream with a plastic seal.

[9] According to figures gathered by Statista, a market data and statistics portal, while combined private labels sold more, in 2014 Blue Bell was the best-selling ice cream brand in the United States.

[21] The sales area is primarily concentrated in the Southern United States, and has been sold as far west as Las Vegas, as far north as Indianapolis and Denver, and as far east as Richmond, Virginia.

To become one of the three biggest ice cream manufacturers, Blue Bell has consistently been the top seller in the majority of the markets the company has entered.

[25] In 2006 and 2012, astronauts aboard the International Space Station were also treated to Blue Bell ice cream "to help out (the crew's) happiness quotient.

Apple Jr., of The New York Times claimed in 2006 that "[w]ith clean, vibrant flavors and a rich, luxuriant consistency achieved despite a butterfat content a little lower than some competitors, it hooks you from the first spoonful.

Entirely and blessedly absent are the cloying sweetness, chalky texture, and oily, gummy aftertaste that afflict many mass-manufactured ice creams.

While the test market was in the Denver metropolitan area, there was speculation that the rest of the state would soon see Blue Bell on store shelves.

[42] The affected distribution centers included: The recalls were so severe that they threatened to shut down the company; executives warned shareholders that they faced a "capital crisis.

Those markets, including Charlotte, Kansas City, Louisville, and Phoenix, were added based on the fact that Blue Bell will effectively service those areas.

The day following its initial rollout, September 1, Blue Bell resumed production at its Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, facility.

In March 2019, the company resumed distribution to much of the Virginia area,[47] northeastern North Carolina and greater Kansas City.

In March 2022, the company resumed distribution to Clark & Nye counties in Nevada, but there may be possible expansion to greater Los Angeles, California.

[49][50] The investigation, by the DOJ's Consumer Protection Branch, is reportedly led by trial attorney Patrick Hearn, who successfully prosecuted executives of the Peanut Corporation of America in 2015.

[53] On October 22, 2020, Paul Kruse, Blue Bell's Chief Executive Officer during the outbreak, and formerly, its general counsel,[54] was indicted on seven felony counts of conspiracy and wire fraud for his part in the alleged cover up.

Under the plea deal, Kruse will plead guilty to one misdemeanor charge of having caused adulterated ice cream products to be distributed and pay a $100,000 fine.