EXHIBIT 99.1


                     COOLBRANDS SELLS ITS FRANCHISE DIVISION

Toronto, Canada, December 22, 2005 - CoolBrands International Inc.
("CoolBrands") (TSX: COB.SV.A) today announced that its board of directors has
approved the sale of substantially all of its franchising division to
International Franchise Corp. for cash consideration of US$8 million. Definitive
agreements in respect of the transaction are expected to be completed, and the
transaction closed, prior to the end of this month.

The portion of the franchise division being sold operates by franchising and
licensing retail outlets serving primarily frozen yogurt and ice cream under the
Bresler's, I Can't Believe It's Yogurt, Ice Cream Churn, Swensen's, and Yogen
Fruz trademarks. Following closing of the transaction, CoolBrands will continue
to operate as franchisor of retail outlets under the Jerry Tucci's Pizza Pasta
and Tropicana Smoothies trademarks.

The sale of the franchising division will allow CoolBrands to focus its
resources in its pre-packaged consumer products division, yogurt division,
foodservice division and dairy components division. A portion of the proceeds
from the sale will be used to repay short term borrowings and the balance will
be used for general working capital requirements of CoolBrands.

International Franchise Corp. is a company controlled by Mr. Aaron Serruya, a
director of CoolBrands and the senior executive responsible for the franchising
division at CoolBrands. The sale transaction was reviewed and unanimously
recommended to the board of directors of CoolBrands by a committee of
independent directors of CoolBrands, consisting of Robert E. Baker, Romeo De
Gasperis and Arthur Waldbaum, and was unanimously approved by the board of
directors of CoolBrands. As part of their review of the transaction, the
independent committee and the board of directors received a fairness opinion
from Duff & Phelps, LLC who acted as exclusive financial advisor to CoolBrands
and who assisted CoolBrands in marketing the division to potential buyers.

"Divesting our franchise business will enhance the Company's ability to
implement its plans and strategies in its core business segments," said David J.
Stein, President, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chairman of CoolBrands
International Inc. "We believe that International Franchise Corp., under the
leadership of Aaron Serruya, is committed to providing the focus, energy and
imagination to help move the franchise system forward in the years to come."

Mr. Aaron Serruya will remain on the board of directors of CoolBrands, but
following completion of the transaction will no longer be an executive officer
of CoolBrands.

About CoolBrands International: CoolBrands International is a leading marketer
of dairy based snacks in the refrigerated and frozen snack foods categories. In
the frozen snack foods category, CoolBrands manufactures and distributes such
well known brands as Godiva Ice Cream, Whole Fruit Sorbet, Eskimo Pie frozen
snacks, Tropicana Fruit











Bars, Chipwich Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches and many others. In the refrigerated
dairy category, CoolBrands manufactures and distributes Breyer's Yogurt and
Creme Savers Yogurt. CoolBrands operates a "direct store delivery" (DSD) ice
cream distribution system in selected markets in the U.S., serving CoolBrands
products and a growing family of Partner Brands to supermarkets, convenience
stores and other retail customers. CoolBrands' 50.1% owned subsidiary, Americana
Foods, is a leading U.S. manufacturer and supplier of soft serve mixes, packaged
ice cream, frozen yogurt and sorbet products, frozen snacks and other food
products to well known national 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' Dairy
Components Division 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.

For more information about CoolBrands, visit www.coolbrandsinc.com.
                                             ----------------------
Forward Looking Statements

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.



For more information, please contact:

David Stein
Co-Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
(631) 737-9700