gourmet ice cream's presence with the opening of the Haagen Dazs Shoppe.

And there are plans to open a second shop, said Mr. William Cox, president of Prestige Imports, the company that has been distributing Haagen Dasz to the Island for ten years and has owned the right to import the product here since the early 1970s.

"We felt there was niche for a gourmet ice cream parlour and (another location) is under heavy consideration at the moment,'' he said.

Mr. Cox, also a principle in the new venture, added: "Organising an ice cream shop in not as easy as it appears, we have invested a fair amount in putting the store together to promote the high quality of the product.'' "The raspberries for their raspberry swirl flavour come from Bosnia, they won't make that flavour without them,'' he noted.

The Haagen Dasz Shoppe will have all the related ice cream products as well as a soft serve yogurt that is fat-free and sugar-free. As well as 28 different types of ice cream, patrons can buy uncoated ice dream bars and choose from ten different dips.

As well as Mr. Cox, there are a small number of investors who contributed to the Bermudian-owned business.

Bermuda was the first export customer of the product in the world, Mr. Cox said.

Mr. Patrick James, former manager of Fourways deli, is the business' manager.

"Mr. James has been involved with the new store from the ground up,'' commented Mr. Cox.

DECADENT DASZ -- Manager Mr. Patrick James, left, with Ms Shilik Hayward and Ms Stacey Godwin, will be serving 28 ice cream flavours at the Haagen Dazs Shoppe.