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                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

                                   NEWS FROM:
                          COOLBRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC.


8300 Woodbine Avenue, 5th Floor                       Contact: Michael Serruya
Markham, Ontario, Canada, L3R 9Y7                     Telephone: (905) 479-8762

                     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 6, 2005

     CoolBrands International Inc. Appoints Robert E. Baker as Lead Director

Toronto, Canada, October 6, 2005 - CoolBrands International Inc. (TSX: COB.SV.A)
today announced that the Board of Directors has appointed independent board
member Robert E. Baker to the newly created position of lead director. The
appointment is consistent with CoolBrands' continuing commitment to meet higher
standards of governance, accountability and transparency.

As lead director, Mr. Baker will be principally responsible for coordinating the
activities of the independent directors and presiding over executive sessions of
that group as well as facilitating communications between the independent
directors and management. Such position was established based upon a
recommendation of the Corporate Governance Committee as part of its ongoing
review of the Company's corporate governance practices.

"The Company has made great strides over the past year to ensure it is meeting
higher standards of corporate governance. I look forward to continuing to
contribute to this effort, and to providing independent, strategic leadership on
the Board. An important part of these responsibilities will be to work closely
with management to build and maintain shareholder value," said Mr. Baker.

Michael Serruya, Co-Chairman of the Board, added, "Bob has been a valuable and
active contributor to the Board since he joined us earlier this year, and we are
very appreciative of his commitment to the Company. He brings both industry
expertise, as well as sound judgment and impeccable integrity to the lead
directorship position."

Mr. Baker has been a member of the Board since March 2005 and serves on the
Board's compensation and governance committees. Mr. Baker is currently President
of Puroast Coffee. From 1999 until 2003, he was Vice President, Market Strategy
at ConAgra Foods. He previously held executive management positions at Dean
Foods and Kraft Foods. He currently serves as a board member of the Milk
Processors Education Program.

         About CoolBrands International:

CoolBrands International markets a broad range of ice creams and frozen snacks
under a Family of Brands that includes Eskimo Pie, Godiva Ice Cream, Whole Fruit
Sorbet, Snapple On Ice Pops, Tropicana Fruit Bars, No Pudge! Frozen Snacks,
Crayola Color Pops, Yoplait Frozen Yogurt and many other well recognized brand
names. CoolBrands also manufactures markets and sells fresh yogurt products,
including Breyers Fruit on the Bottom, Light and Creme Savers cup yogurt
varieties. CoolBrands' operates a "direct store door" (DSD) frozen distribution
system in selected markets in the U.S. to deliver CoolBrands products and
Partner Brands to supermarkets, convenience stores and other retail customers.
CoolBrands' subsidiary, Americana Foods, manufactures soft serve mixes, packaged
ice cream, frozen snacks and other food products for CoolBrands and for well
known national



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retailers, food companies and restaurant chains. CoolBrands' Foodservice
Division manufactures and sells premium soft serve ice cream and frozen yogurt
to the foodservice industry. CoolBrands' Franchising Division franchises and
licenses frozen dessert outlets operated under a Family of Brands including
Tropicana Smoothies, Juices & More, Swensen's Ice Cream, I Can't Believe It's
Yogurt, Yogen Fruz, Bresler's Premium Ice Cream, Golden Swirl and Ice Cream
Churn, with company owned, franchised and non-traditional partnership locations
around the world.


         For more information about CoolBrands, visit www.coolbrandsinc.com.

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.