EXHIBIT 99.1

                                   NEWS FROM:
                         COOLBRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FEBRUARY 18, 2005

    COOLBRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC. TO END DISTRIBUTION OF WEIGHT WATCHERS'r'
            SMART ONES'r' FROZEN NOVELTY PRODUCTS AS OF MAY 1, 2005


Toronto, Canada, February 18, 2005 - As part of a settlement agreement,
CoolBrands International, Inc. (TSX: COB.SV.A) will no longer manufacture, sell,
market or distribute ice cream and frozen novelty products using Weight
Watchers'r' and Smart Ones'r' trademarks as of May 1, 2005.

The settlement was reached between CoolBrands International, Inc., Weight
Watchers International, Inc. (NYSE: WTW), and Wells' Dairy, Inc., thus
concluding the pending litigation among the parties.

Wells' Dairy, Inc. is the exclusive licensee for the extensive line of ice cream
and frozen novelties sold under the Weight Watchers'r' brand.

For More Information Contact:

U.S. and International                   Canada
Jeremy Fielding/Jon Morgan               Robin Sears
Kekst and Company                        Navigator Ltd.
(212) 521 4800                           (416) 642-6437

About CoolBrands International:

CoolBrands International competes 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 competes in the fast-growing "Better-for-You" ice cream category with
offerings such as fat free, non-dairy Whole Fruit Sorbet and Atkins Endulge
controlled carbohydrate super premium ice cream. New "Better-for-You" offerings
by CoolBrands include No Pudge! Branded frozen snacks and a line of
"Better-for-Kids" frozen snacks sold under the Crayola, Justice League, Snapple,
Care Bears and Trix Pops brands. CoolBrands also competes in the super premium
ice cream category with the Dreamery Ice Cream and Godiva Ice Cream brands. In
addition, CoolBrands markets a wide variety of "all family" premium ice creams
and







frozen snacks under brand names including Eskimo Pie, Chipwich, Tropicana,
Welch's, Yoplait and Welch's.

CoolBrands' subsidiary, Eskimo Pie Frozen Distribution, operates a "direct store
door" (DSD) ice cream distribution system in selected markets 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, 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.

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.