Exhibit 99.1

                                   NEWS FROM:
                          COOLBRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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      COOLBRANDS ANNOUNCES REGULATORY APPROVAL FOR NORMAL COURSE ISSUER BID

Toronto, Canada, October 28, 2004 - CoolBrands International Inc. (TSX: COB.A)
announced today that the Toronto Stock Exchange has approved its application to
make a normal course issuer bid for the repurchase of its Class A subordinate
voting shares.

Pursuant to the normal course issuer bid, CoolBrands will be entitled to
repurchase for cancellation up to 550,000 of its Class A subordinate voting
shares (representing approximately 1.1% of outstanding shares of that class)
over the twelve month period commencing on November 15, 2004. As of October 25,
2004, there were 49,863,068 Class A subordinate voting shares issued and
outstanding. All purchases will be made through the facilities of the TSX.
CoolBrands has not repurchased any shares in the previous twelve months. The
Company does not intend to begin any repurchases until the release of its fiscal
2004 and fourth quarter financial results, which is expected to occur in the
second half of November 2004.

CoolBrands believes that currently the underlying value of its Class A
subordinate voting shares may not be reflected in the market price and
accordingly believes that this normal course issuer bid provides value by
allowing the Company to reduce the number of shares outstanding at an attractive
price.

About CoolBrands International:

CoolBrands International is a leader in the consumer products and franchising
segments of the frozen dessert industry, marketing a diverse range of frozen
dessert products under nationally and internationally recognized brand names.
CoolBrands is the pre-eminent company in the fast-growing "better-for-you" ice
cream category with offerings such as fat free, non-dairy Whole Fruit'TM' Sorbet
and new Atkins'r' Endulge'TM' controlled carbohydrate super premium ice cream.
CoolBrands also competes in the super premium ice cream category with the
Dreamery'r' Ice Cream and Godiva'r' Ice Cream brands. In addition, CoolBrands
markets a wide variety of "all family" premium ice creams, frozen novelties and
frozen desserts under the Eskimo Pie'r', Chipwich'r', Tropicana'r', Welch's'r',
Yoplait'r', Betty Crocker'r' and Trix'r' brand names.

CoolBrands' subsidiary, Eskimo Pie Frozen Distribution, operates the second
largest "direct store delivery" (DSD) ice cream distribution system in the U.S.,
serving these CoolBrands products and a growing family of Partner Brands to
supermarkets, convenience stores and other retail customers.








CoolBrands' subsidiary, Americana Foods, is a leading U.S. manufacturer and
supplier of soft serve mixes, packaged ice cream, frozen yogurt and sorbet
products and frozen novelties to well known national retailers, food companies
and restaurant chains. Americana Foods also manufactures and sells products for
the foodservice channel, which are extensively used to standardize quality and
reduce labor costs in on-site food preparation.

CoolBrands' Foodservice Division manufactures and sells premium soft serve ice
cream and frozen yogurt to the foodservice industry. CoolBrands also
manufactures and sells a full line of quality flavours, chocolate coatings,
fudge sauces, powders for chocolate milk, egg nog bases and other ingredients
and flexible packaging products for use in private label dairy products in
addition to the Company's brands.

CoolBrands also franchises and licenses frozen dessert outlets operated under a
Family of Brands including Tropicana'r' Smoothies, Juices & More, Swensen's'r'
Ice Cream, I Can't Believe It's Yogurt'r', Yogen Fruz'r', Bresler's'r' Premium
Ice Cream, Golden Swirl'r' and Ice Cream Churn'r', with company owned,
franchised and non-traditional partnership locations around the world.

This press release includes certain forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding, among
other things, statements relating to goals, plans and projections regarding the
Company's financial position and business strategy. These statements may be
identified by the fact that they use such words as "anticipate," "estimate,"
"expect," "intend," "plan," "believe," and other words and terms of similar
meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial
performance. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations
and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could
delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause actual outcomes and results
to differ materially from current expectations. These factors include, among
other things, market factors, competitive product development and promotional
activity, the level of consumer interest in the Company's products, product
costing, the weather, the performance of management, including management's
ability to implement its plans as contemplated, the Company's relationship with
its customers, franchisees, licensees and licensors, governmental regulations
and legislation and litigation. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly
update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.



Contact:
Michael Serruya, Co-Chairman
CoolBrands International Inc.
Email Address: mserruya@coolbrandsinc.com
        Telephone: (905) 479-8762