Baskin Robbins

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Our Story

Baskin RobbinsSeize the Yay
Some people think happiness is elusive.
That all you can do is sit back and hope it comes to you.

Well, they don't see what we see.

Made your bed? That's a reason to celebrate.
Put on pants with actual buttons? There's another.
Catch your kid's smile coming off the bus today? Worth celebrating.

See, happiness isn't a lottery you win; it's a choice you can make.
Even if the world hands you a million reasons to choose otherwise.

So laugh it off over ice cream. Get a just-because cake.
Find your slice of happiness to celebrate.

The Legend of 31 Flavors
Back in 1945, Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins had a pretty great idea. See, they were big ice cream people. So while every other ice cream shop stuck with vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, they decided to go big. Like, “let's offer 31 flavors instead” big. Because ice cream should be an every day treat. And the people? Yeah, they loved that.

It's safe to say Burt and Irv's passion made an impact. Fast forward about 75 years, and we're over 1400 flavors strong. Which is... kinda crazy when you think about it. But the best part is, we've got flavors for everyone, for every day, and for every occasion. So, whether your kid's team finally won a game, you found your left shoe, or you just got out of bed this morning, there's always a yay-worthy scoop ready for you. And we think that's pretty cool.

Making Your Favorites
Our ice cream inventors are kind of a big deal. These are the brains behind every scoop, from Pralines 'n Cream to Jamoca Almond Fudge. They start each day off with one goal in mind: make someone's next favorite flavor. And, while that might sound like a lot of pressure, we've heard it's a pretty sweet gig.

A Treat For Every Occasion
Maybe you learned a new dance trend, finally made your bed, or found the perfect blue sweater. We think every win is worth celebrating. That's why we do what we do. But, we don't just stop at ice cream. Sometimes you need a little something extra. Like a Cappuccino Blast pick-me-up after lunch, a handcrafted sundae in the afternoon, or even a just-because ice cream cake on those days when an ordinary cake just won't do. No matter what you're celebrating, we're here to help you seize the yay.

Keepin' It Local
All of our 2400+ locations in the United States are locally owned and operated. So, no matter which shop you visit, you're always supporting a local business. And that's a reason to celebrate.

FAQ

• Who founded Baskin-Robbins?
  Baskin-Robbins was founded in 1945 by two brothers-in-law-Burton "Burt" Baskin and Irvine "Irv" Robbins. They shared a dream to create an innovative ice cream shop that would be a neighborhood gathering place for families.
• Where did the "31" come from?
  Baskin-Robbins "31" was created to represent a different ice cream flavor for each day of the month. We introduced "31 Flavors" into our marketing in 1953.
• How many Baskin-Robbins flavors are there?
  Since 1945, we've created more than 1,400 unique and delicious ice cream flavors. And we offer new options every month.

https://www.baskinrobbins.com

26 Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream Flavors, Ranked

Tasting TableBaskin-Robbins
Started by brothers-in-law Burton Baskin and Irvine Robbins in 1945, Baskin-Robbins has been an American ice cream institution for decades. The original concept was to offer customers 31 flavors, one for every day of the month. However, thanks to rotating special offerings and flavor changes over the years, this ice cream shop has sold tasty treats in more than 1,400 flavors during its existence.

From classic flavors like chocolate and vanilla to fruity options including strawberry and mango, as well as collaborations with other brands like Reese's and Oreo, Baskin-Robbins has a wide range of flavors you can choose from when you visit any one of the over 2,400 store locations in the U.S. today. In fact, there are so many flavors available that you may find making a decision to be a little overwhelming. To help out potential customers, we sampled 26 of the most commonly available and popular Baskin-Robbins flavors and ranked them.

1. Old Fashioned Butter Pecan
   Actual butter-roasted pecans in a butter pecan ice cream base. The taste is reminiscent of a mouthwatering butterscotch candy, with the nuttiness of the pecans complementing the flavor and the creamy ice cream, adding a refreshing feel to the dessert.
2. Pralines 'N Cream
   Including praline-coated pecans and caramel swirls in a vanilla base ice cream, pralines 'n cream is easily one of the best flavors available at Baskin-Robbins.
3. Jamoca
   Jamoca has been around since the early days of the ice cream company and is actually trademarked by Baskin-Robbins (though it was originally just known as the coffee flavor on the menu). It tastes as delicious as the smell of roasting coffee beans.
4. Strawberry Cheesecake
   The ice cream base is cheesecake flavored, and there are swirls of strawberry and real bits of small pieces of cheesecake included as well. It's ranked slightly higher than very berry strawberry because the savory notes of the cheesecake balance out the sugary sweetness of the strawberries, creating a dessert that tastes more complete.
5. World Class Chocolate
   It calls to mind more vintage ice cream flavors, reminiscent of a grocery store chocolate ice cream with a more textured and chunky consistency.
6. Mom's Makin' Cookies
   The base of Mom's Makin' Cookies is brown sugar ice cream. In addition, you will find small chocolate chips, a cookie dough swirl, and actual small chunks of chocolate chip cookies within the ice cream as well.
7. Cotton Candy
   Baskin-Robbins somehow managed to very accurately capture the nostalgic, comforting flavor of cotton candy without having the ice cream veer towards being too sugary or sweet, as cotton candy tend to be sometimes.
8. Chocolate Fudge
   Chocolate fudge is darker colored than most of the other chocolate options, probably caused by how it's made up of chocolate upon chocolate upon chocolate. In our opinion, this is one of the best chocolate flavors on the Baskin-Robbins menu.
9. Triple Mango
   The ice cream includes mango ice cream, mango sorbet, chunks of real mango, and a mango ribbon. In other words, make sure you really love mango before ordering.
10. Jamoca Almond Fudge
    It's quite delicious on its own, with a strong coffee taste, but the addition of toasted almonds and a swirl of chocolate thrown into the mix.
11. Gold Medal Ribbon
    A mix of the store's chocolate and vanilla ice cream, as well as a sweet and sugary caramel ribbon. Baskin-Robbins first introduced the flavor in 1979 and brought it back decades later to customers after it realized it had kept one of its "fan favorite" flavors off the shelves for too long.
12. Very Berry Strawberry
    The pink color interspersed with red bites of actual strawberries is both visually appealing and an indication that this ice cream was created with real fruits.
13. Oreo Cookies 'N Cream
    This ice cream has actual Oreo cookies broken up and spread throughout a vanilla ice cream base, recreating the classic cream and chocolate combination of the famous cookies in a frozen dessert.
14. Peanut Butter 'N Chocolate
    This flavor consists of chocolate ice cream with a thick ribbon of peanut butter coursing through it.
15. Rocky Road
    Discover the fun little surprises hidden within the chocolate ice cream base, including mini marshmallows and almonds.
16. Chocolate
    Baskin-Robbins does a good job of infusing its ice cream with chocolate flavoring while keeping the taste relatively light.
17. Chocolate Chip
    The chocolate chip flavor has a vanilla base with relatively small-sized chocolate chips sprinkled throughout the ice cream.
18. Vanilla
    This vanilla ice cream is made with just fresh cream and real vanilla. That being said, some ice cream connoisseurs may find it too bland.
19. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
    Nice little chunks of dough throughout the ice cream, as well as chocolate chips, though they are a bit smaller than you may generally find in desserts.
20. Lemon Custard
    When you bite into this Baskin-Robbins flavor, you will get a refreshing feeling in your mouth, followed by a sour yet slightly sweet lemon dessert taste.
21. Reese's Peanut Butter Cup
    It mixes the original flavor of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups with the franchise's vanilla ice cream.
22. Mint Chocolate Chip
    Most people will find the ratio of mint to chocolate chip unbalanced. The flavor is way too overpowering in favor of the mint.
23. Nutty Coconut
    The coconut taste itself is relatively subtle (some may say bland), but for some reason, the mix of different nuts, which include almonds, pecans, and walnuts, creates a somewhat confusing combination.
24. Rainbow Sherbet
    Counts orange, raspberry, and pineapple in its mix, which creates a combination that's too sweet.
25. Cherries Jubilee
    Modeled after the boozy dessert originally made for royalty with brandy and pitted sour cherries sans ice cream.
26. Daiquiri Ice
    Baskin-Robbins makes the daiquiri ice by mixing a bit of rum flavoring with lime puree.

https://www.tastingtable.com/1543918/baskin-robbins-ice-cream-flavors-ranked/

Burton Baskin marries Shirley Robbins, setting into motion the Baskin-Robbins ice cream empire, on October 10, 1943.

HistoryLink.orgOctober 10, 1943
Shirley Belle Robbins marries Burton Baskin at Glendale Golf and Country Club near Seattle. A decade later, Shirley's older brother Irvine will re-brand his Snowbird ice cream shop in Glendale, California, as the first Baskin-Robbins. Baskin-Robbins will become the nation's best-known ice cream company with more than 8,000 stores in 52 countries. Shirley and Burton's 1943 wedding marks the first time the Baskin-Robbins name makes headlines in a news story.

Baskin, Meet Robbins
Shirley Robbins was born in Winnipeg, Canada, before her parents Aaron and Goldie Robbins moved their family to Seattle in 1923. Shirley's uncle Samuel Berch owned the successful Velvet Ice Cream company in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood and convinced his in-laws to move to Seattle. It was at the Velvet Ice Cream company where Irvine Robbins first scooped ice cream and found the thrill of the business with unique flavors. Sticking a scoop into an ice cream container at his uncle's store was the greatest thrill of his life, Irv Robbins once said. Berch also was president of Western Dairy Products and co-founded Arden Farms in 1925, of which Shirley's father, Aaron Robbins, was also connected. Aaron Robbins started Olympic Dairy in Tacoma and also was influential in his son's ice cream ambitions. The Robbins family lived on 22nd Avenue on Capitol Hill. After their move to Tacoma, she attended Annie Wright before enrolling at the University of Washington, where she was elected president of the Associated Women Students (AWS) on February 4, 1941.

Burton Baskin was born in Streator, Illinois. He graduated from Streator High in 1931, and the University of Illinois in 1935. He later worked at the men's shop inside Chicago's Palmer House Hotel and started dating Shirley in 1941. The son of Eda and Al Baskin, he was a Naval Reserve Lieutenant Commander at the time of the wedding.

Ice Cream Empire
While serving in World War II, Burt Baskin bought an ice cream freezer from an aircraft carrier supply officer and sold his first ice cream to fellow servicemen in the South Pacific. When Baskin returned from his war service, Irv Robbins already had three ice cream stores of his own in California and offered to show his brother-in-law where to get equipment and supplies.

HistoryLink.orgBaskin and Robbins might have been partners earlier if not for the advice of Robbins's father, Aaron. Creating a partnership early would lead them to compromise too often in an effort to get along, he advised.

As a result, Baskin opened a Burton's Ice Cream Shop in Pasadena in 1946, a year after Robbins opened his first Snowbird ice cream shop in Glendale. By 1949, the men had more than 40 stores in Southern California and purchased their first dairy, in Burbank – a move that allowed them to have complete control over ice cream production and flavor development. The separate store identities remained until 1953, when the original Snowbird at 1130 South Adams Street in Glendale became the first Baskin-Robbins.

As the Baskin-Robbins ice cream empire grew, Shirley Baskin worked alongside her husband and brother, writing by hand birthday cards for free birthday ice cream cones. In 2024, nearly 80 years after the start of the birthday cone promotion, the Baskin-Robbins company has a database of millions.

An Artistic Family
Shirley and Burt Baskin had a son, Richard Baskin, who became a composer and wrote the score for Willie Nelson's film Honeysuckle Rose and songs for Robert Altman's film Nashville. Their daughter, Edie Baskin Bronson, became a photographer whose work included illustrations on Saturday Night Live.

The couple co-founded Los Angeles public television station KCET, which in 1964 became an affiliate of the National Educational Television network. Shirley Baskin served on the KCET board for more than 60 years. She was 47 when Baskin died of a heart attack on Christmas Eve at their Studio City, California, home. Baskin saw his company grow to more than 400 stores nationwide when it was sold in 1967 to United Fruit.

https://www.historylink.org/File/22912

14 Things You Need To Know Before Eating At Baskin-Robbins
We've got the scoop on the famed "31 flavors."
2017

1. It all started with two brothers-in-law
   Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins were both already in the ice cream business in their hometown of Glendale, CA when they decided to join forces. They merged their respective ice cream parlors - Burton's Ice Cream Shop and Snowbird Ice Cream to form a joint, family-friendly shop in 1945.
2. The "31 flavors" slogan began in the '50s
   Irv Robbins' former shop, Snowbird, offered 21 flavors - a large selection that was unheard of at the time. Newly formed Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream topped that by serving 31 different varieties of ice cream, so customers could hypothetically try a new flavor every day for a whole month.
3. The most popular flavor was a homemade recipe
   Though flavors like vanilla, chocolate and mint chocolate chip are some of the chain's top sellers, the all-time favorite, Pralines 'n Cream, was first created by Irv Robbins and his wife Irma in their kitchen at home. It's the best-selling flavor, internationally.
4. The flavor selection has changed with the times
   Since opening, the company has introduced more than 1,300 flavors, including several limited-edition varieties meant to commemorate historic events. Decades ago, Gorba Chocolate came out in honor of Mikhail Gorbachev and the fall of communism.
5. Those pink spoons are iconic
   From the start, Baskin-Robbins has always allowed customers to sample as many flavors as they like before deciding which one to buy. The bubblegum pink tasting spoons have been around since the late '50s, and the chain even introduced a "Pinky the Spoon" character back in 1988.
6. There's a spotlight flavor every month
7. You can usually get coffee with your ice cream
8. There are some famous former scoopers
9. It's the world's largest chain of ice cream specialty shops
10. The chain holds a sweet world record
    Back in 2005, Baskin-Robbins secured a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records by dishing up the largest-ever cup of ice cream. The massive vanilla scoop, weighing 8,865 pounds, was put together to celebrate the store's 60th anniversary.
11. You can order some insane cakes
12. You can snag discounted scoops
13. Now the shops even serve pizza
    But not the cheesy kind you're thinking of. Last year, Baskin-Robbins introduced dessert pizzas called Polar Pizza - a giant cookie pie topped with ice cream and other fixings like crumbled Oreo, cookie dough bites, sprinkles and icing.
14. You can scoop your own at home
    If you don't live near a scoop shop, or just have a real addiction to the stuff, you can pick up half-gallon containers of Baskin-Robbins ice cream from supermarkets across the country. Don't forget to grab toppings for an at-home sundae bar.

https://www.delish.com/restaurants/g4214/baskin-robbins-facts/

Timeline

BASKIN ROBBINS
The Jouney
1945	Irv Robbins opens Snowbird Ice Cream in Glendale, California, featuring 21 flavors, a concept that will eventually lead to Baskin Robbins.
1946	Burt opens Burton's Ice Cream Shop in Pasadena, CA.
1949	Southern California has over 40 stores.
	Burt and Irv purchase their first dairy in Burbank to gain complete control over the production of their ice cream, and the making of new ingredients and flavors.
1953	Burt and Irv drop the separate identities of Snowbird and Burton's and bring them under the name Baskin Robbins.
1954	Baskin-Robbins competes against Los Angeles County Fair and wins their first Gold Medal, which sets the pattern for county and state fair participation.
	Baskin Robbins Ice Cream has been winning Gold Medals every year since then.
1958	Baskin-Robbins commemorates the Dodgers moving from Brooklyn to Los Angeles by introducing a new flavor called Baseball Nut.
1959	Baskin-Robbins brings about the “Flavor Library” consisting of 150 flavors, with the introduction of Hazelnut Toffee ice cream.
	The first Baskin Robbins outside of California opens in Phoenix, Ariz.
1960	The iconic pink miniature spoons hit the stores.
1962	Baseball Nut flavor changes from peanuts to cashews to welcome the Los Angeles Angels to the American League.
1964	Beatlemania rocks the US and the Beatle Nut flavor is launched
1969	The first astronauts set foot on the moon and the Lunar Cheesecake is born at Baskin Robbins.
1970	As a tribute to bubblegum fans, Baskin-Robbins pops in the Pink Bubblegum flavor.
1971	Canada opens its first Baskin Robbins in Toronto.
1973	Baskin Robbins Japan Co. Ltd is formed to open outlets in Tokyo and Osaka.
1974	Baskin Robbins goes international, with the first European store opening in Brussels, Belgium.
1976	Valley Forge Fudge is introduced to celebrate America's Bicentennial.
	Wometco de Puerto Rico, Inc., opens the first Baskin Robbins in Puerto Rico.
1979	UAE opens its first Baskin Robbins in Dubai.
1980	The Olympics came to Lake Placid, and so did Baskin-Robbins with the Gold Medal Ribbon.
1982	Saudi Arabia opens Baskin Robbins.
	2 new flavors are introduced- Preppy Craze and Preppy Mint.
1985	Korea opens its first Baskin Robbins.
	The new, sensational flavor called Oreos Cookies 'n Cream is introduced.
1986	The American TV series, Miami Vice, becomes the talk of the town and so does Baskin Robbins' Miami Ice.
1988	"Pinky the Spoon" character is born, bringing the iconic pink spoon to life.
1990	Gorba Chocolate is introduced to honor the Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev on his winning the Nobel Prize and the end of communism. Baskin Robbins opens in Mexico City and Monterey, Mexico.
1991	Indonesia sees its first Baskin Robbins.
1994	Cappuccino Blast becomes a nationwide hit.
1995	The flavor Love Potion #31 becomes the sweetheart of Valentine's Day.
1999	14th July 1999 – Awarded Guinness World Record Certificate for making the world's largest Ice Cream Cake weighing a record 4064 Kg.
2000	Awarded "Challenge of Excellence Award" for the third time in a row for outstanding performance.
	May 2000 – Received Hall of Fame Award from ADQSR International for consistent performance and exceeding BR standards.
2002	Shrek Swirl flavor celebrates the animated hit movie Shrek.
2004	Baskin Robbins franchisee, Mitch Cohen, sets a new Guinness World Record for the "Most Ice Cream Prepared In One Minute" by scooping 19 cones per minute.
2005	Baskin-Robbins celebrates 60 years of providing ingenious and top quality ice creams all over the world, with a striking collection of more than 1000 flavors in the Flavor Library. Baskin-Robbins brings out a whole new shop design in coordination with the worldwide expansion plan. Baskin Robbins Korea launches Cafe 31, the first supreme and exquisite dessert shop in Korea.
2007	Baskin Robbins adds to its array of frozen take-home ice cream treats by introducing Fudge Crunch Ice Cream Cakes.
2008	Soft Serve is launched, making Baskin Robbins the only national ice cream chain to have both Soft Serve and hand scooped ice creams.
2017	Baskin Robbins celebrates the opening of its 500th store in Saudi Arabia
2018	Now, break the ice at Dubai's new Baskin Robbins Dessert Cafe

https://www.baskinrobbinsmea.com/en/about-us/know-the-brand/the-journey/

Fun Facts

BASKIN ROBBINS
Fun Facts
1945	Irv Robbins opens Snowbird ice cream shop in Glendale, California. The store's concept will later become the first Baskin-Robbins.
1946	Burt Baskin opens Burton's ice cream shop in Pasadena, California.
1948	Burt and Irv's stores grow to a chain of six stores and the founders decide to sell their first licensing agreement, pioneering the franchise business in the ice cream industry.
1949	Baskin-Robbins expands to 40 franchised stores across Southern California.
1950s	Baskin-Robbins introduces the signature miniature Pink Spoon, encouraging ice cream enthusiasts to unlimited tastes.
1953	Burt and Irv consolidate stores under the name Baskin-Robbins 31 Ice Cream, creating the unique "31" concept of offering a different flavour for every day of the month.
1957	Baseball Nut hits stores to commemorate the Dodgers move to Los Angeles from Brooklyn.
1958	Baskin-Robbins offers nearly 150 flavours in our “Flavour Library.”
1960s	Baskin-Robbins expands nationwide, with more than 400 stores.
1964	Beatle Nut hits the stores when Beatle Mania strikes the United States.
1965	0031 Secret Bonded appears in store to celebrate the popular James Bond 007 movie series.
1969	Lunar Cheesecake launches as the first man lands on the moon.
1970s	Baskin-Robbins expands internationally.
1970	Pink Bubble Gum pops in stores.
1976	Valley Forge Fudge honors America's Bicentennial.
1980s	Miami Ice hits stores along with TV hit Miami Vice. Along with the preppy craze Baskin-Robbins introduces Preppy Mint.
1985	Oreo Cookies 'n Cream becomes a new hit flavour.
1990s	Gorba Chocolate honors the Soviet Leader and fall of communism.
1994	Cappuccino Blast explodes into stores nationwide.
1995	Love Potion #31 starts a Valentine's Day love affair.
2002	Shrek Swirl appears in dipping cabinets nationwide.
2005	Bold Breezes arrives into stores across the country. Baskin-Robbins opens up the Birthday Club to ice cream lovers of all ages.
2009	Introduction of Soft Serve and 31 Below.
2012	Celebrate 40 years in Canada!

https://www.baskinrobbins.ca/fun-facts/

The Jewish History of Baskin-Robbins:
How two Jewish entrepreneurs created an ice cream empire
Burt Baskin and and Irv Robbins' continuously innovative approach laid the foundation for the brand's enduring success.

Unpacked Across the world, arguably the most well-known name in ice cream is Baskin-Robbins. However, its story of success - how the company evolved from a single shop into a worldwide empire, spearheaded by two Jewish founders - is not as widely-known as its creamy product.

Flavors like Jamoca Almond Fudge and Cherries Jubilee were born from the innovative thinking and creativity of Jewish founders Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins - at a time when Jewish entrepreneurs began to dominate the U.S. ice cream industry.

Whether you only frequent locally-owned ice cream shops or are a devoted Baskin-Robbins fan enjoying all 31 flavors each month, you'll still be surprised to learn the fascinating Jewish history behind Baskin-Robbins, starting with a man named Irv Robbins.

Irv Robbins:
From a family business to an ice cream empire

Born on December 6, 1917, in Canada, Irv Robbins grew up in Tacoma, Washington, where his father owned a downtown ice cream parlor. From the time he could lift a scooper, Robbins worked in his father's store. He loved the joy he was able to give people by scooping out ice cream and "finished a day's work happy."

During college at the University of Washington, Robbins joined Zeta Beta Tau, the first Jewish fraternity, and studied political science, but knew he wanted to return to the ice cream business to continue spreading delight with his work.

After graduating, he further honed his skills as a lieutenant serving the U.S. Navy during World War II. Robbins began making ice cream for his fellow soldiers, innovating with new flavors and slightly-tweaked recipes.

After the war, the aspiring ice cream mogul tapped into his $6,000 bar mitzvah fund to open his first Snowbird Ice Cream shop in Glendale, California. He quickly earned acclaim for offering 21 different flavors - a surprisingly high number for a time when most ice cream parlors carried no more than five.

IRV ROBBINSThere was really no such thing anyplace as a pure ice cream store. I just had the crazy idea that somebody ought to open a store that sold ...nothing but ice cream, and could do it in an outstanding way.

-Robbins told the Los Angeles Times in 1985.

In the 1940s, most ice cream parlors offered just vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and coffee, often with an icy consistency and chemically flavored. But a shift was underway in the United States - creamy, dense ice cream was rising in popularity as businesses innovated to make richer versions.

Burt Baskin
Baskin-Robbins: A family and ice cream business marriage

Born in Streator, Illinois, in 1913 to Russian-Jewish immigrant parents who ran a local clothing store, Burt Baskin attended the University of Illinois. Like Irv Robbins, he also joined Zeta Beta Tau. He met his wife Shirley Robbins - Irv Robbin's sister - in 1941 and the two were married the next year in her hometown of Tacoma.

A member of B'nai B'rith Lodge 2625, a Jewish social advocacy group, Baskin served in the Navy during World War II. Upon returning home from the South Pacific in 1946, Baskin and Shirley moved to California, where Robbins was operating his Snowbird shop in Glendale.

Baskin began his career as the owner of a men's clothing store, following in his family's footsteps. However, his brother-in-law convinced him that selling ice cream was much more enjoyable than selling clothing, and Baskin founded Burton's Ice Cream in Pasadena.

By 1948, the duo merged their eight ice cream parlors - five Snowbird locations and three Burton's ice cream shops - to form one company enterprise. They retained their individual names on their stores, based on advice from Robbins' father. The elder Robbins suggested they first build their businesses separately to understand their strengths and desires without conflict, and then consider merging.

Five years later, they united their shops under the iconic Baskin-Robbins banner, flipping a coin to determine whose name would come first. This merger resulted in the company's now-legendary 31 flavors, one for each day of the month.

Baskin-Robbins became a quick hit for the variety of flavor options. Both founders focused on crafting innovative ice cream flavors, which resonated deeply with their customers.

Franchising
Baskin-Robbins paved the way for food franchises across the country

As Baskin-Robbins continued to grow, opening more ice cream shops across Southern California, they noticed that they were able to pay less attention to each store they owned.

IRV ROBBINS[Soon after merging] we hit on selling our stores to our managers, Without realizing it at the time, we were in the franchise business before the word 'franchise' was fashionable. We opened another store and another and another...

-Robbins told the Los Angeles Times.

Seizing an opportunity, Baskin and Robbins brokered deals with store managers, transferring ownership while stipulating the operational guidelines for each Baskin-Robbins store.

With these innovative agreements, they inadvertently set a milestone in restaurant history: Baskin-Robbins became the first food company to franchise. Their trailblazing approach later inspired their milkshake machine salesman, Ray Kroc, to replicate the model for his enterprise, McDonald's.

Franchising allows businesses to license their name to entrepreneurs eager to establish their own branch. For company leaders, this model ensures each individual store is well taken care of since franchisees invest their personal funds.

For Baskin-Robbins, this approach let Baskin and Robbins focus on overarching brand development and flavor innovation, rather than the day-to-day operations of each ice cream parlor. Their strategic shift allowed the business to continue expanding without compromising quality or individual store attention.

Products
Baskin-Robbins pioneered another industry first:
Providing franchisees with specific products made at a central facility.

The company also implemented certain policies across all the franchises, like offering customers unlimited free samples. Their iconic little pink spoon became a staple of Baskin-Robbins' commitment to helping customers pick their favorite flavor.

IRV ROBBINSNot everyone likes all our flavors, but each flavor is someone's favorite.

https://jewishunpacked.com/the-jewish-history-of-baskin-robbins-how-two-jewish-entrepreneurs-created-an-ice-cream-empire/

The Untold Truth of Baskin-Robbins
2019

MashedBaskin-Robbins
Is there anything better than a nice, creamy, cold ice cream treat on a hot day? Or a cold day? Or any day ever? Ice cream is the best, which is why we're so grateful that Baskin-Robbins exists.

Whether you've tried all of its famous 31 flavors (spoiler alert: there are actually way more flavors than that!) or whether you have a one and only favorite that keeps bringing you back to the store, it's pretty much an undisputed fact that Baskin-Robbins rocks harder than their famous Rocky Road.

Even if you grew up eating at this ice cream franchise on the regular, there is probably a lot you don't know about it. From what goes into the ice cream, to the two ice cream fanatics who started the business, there is a lot more to learn about Baskin-Robbins. We took a deep dive into the history and the mystery behind one of the best-known ice cream shops in the world to give you the real scoop.

Baskin and Robbins were brothers-in-law
Robbins was the son of a dairyman and came of age in his family's ice cream store, scooping up ice cream and happiness to customers all over Tacoma, Washington. He joined the army during World War II, and when he got out in 1945, his passion for ice cream led him to found the Snowbird Ice Cream store in Glendale, California.

Baskin, who was married to Shirley, Robbins' sister, had the same idea. He founded Burton's Ice Cream in Pasadena, California a year later and by 1948, the duo had combined their stores to create one chain that would one day be the most famous ice cream chain in the nation. They flipped a coin to see whose name would come first on the sign, and the rest is Baskin-Robbins history.

Robbins' son gave up the family business to become vegan
John Robbins will always have a connection to the company, though: he is the creator of one of the store's most famous flavors, Jamoca Almond Fudge.

There are a lot more than 31 flavors at Baskin-Robbins
Irvine Robbins loved inventing ice cream flavors that were fun (like ChaChaCha, otherwise known as cherry chocolate chip), goofy (like Plum Nuts), and had connections to current events (Lunar Cheesecake was introduced in 1969, one day after America put a man on the moon), so it is no surprise that in actuality, there are a lot more than 31 flavors to be sampled at this beloved ice cream store.

In fact, more than 1,300 flavors have been introduced to the world via the Baskin-Robbins empire. They aren't all available all the time, but this huge variety of tastes ensures that there is something out there for everyone.

Today, Baskin-Robbins is owned by the same brand as Dunkin'
At the time of this writing, the Baskin-Robbins franchise is ranked 12th out of the top 500 franchises in the world, so it's fair to say that this merger was a pretty sweet deal.

Baskin-Robbins' Plum Nut flavor was invented in response to an insult
According to the official Baskin-Robbins website, a boy came into a Baskin-Robbins store one day and said to Baskin, "Whoever thinks of all these flavors must be plumb nuts!" Instead of being offended, Baskin was inspired. "Congratulations," he said, "You just invented a new flavor: Plum Nuts."

Baskin-Robbins invented Pralines 'n Cream - and drove the country crazy with it

Baskin-Robbins' best-selling flavors are the classics
According to Baskin-Robbins' website, the top five best-selling flavors of all time are vanilla, chocolate, mint chocolate chip, Pralines 'n Cream, and chocolate chip.

Thankfully, not all Baskin-Robbins flavors make it to customers

Robbins was REALLY into ice cream
He had an ice cream cone-shaped pool built in his backyard. Robbins would also put ice cream on his cereal for breakfast in the mornings, and would go through "a quart of ice cream every two or three days." Talk about dedication to one's craft! In spite of all this ice cream eating, Robbins still lived to the ripe old age of 90 years old, and spent his extra money and time on fun things like classic cars and his own boat, which, of course, he called the 32nd Flavor.

Only two Baskin-Robbins flavors aren't kosher
According to KosherQuest.org, the only two ice cream flavors from Baskin-Robbins that are not kosher are Rocky Road and Pink Bubble Gum.

One Baskin-Robbins flavor had to be pulled after a gruesome promotion in Japan
In theory, the flavor was a fairly innocuous one. Robbins named it Cold Duck Ice, and it was meant to taste like cold duck sparkling wine.

Baskin-Robbins uses freeze-resistant formulas on their ice cream add-ins
Not wanting to break his customers' teeth (thanks for that!), Robbins had his team come up with freeze-resistant formulas to keep things like gumdrops, peanut butter, coffee, chocolate chips, and bubble gum from freezing while in the ice cream, ensuring that no one had to suffer while trying to enjoy a delicious scoop of candy-packed goodness.

This step in ice cream creation revolutionized the ice cream business...

https://www.mashed.com/177683/the-untold-truth-of-baskin-robbins/

Baskin Robbins Logo

1000logosBaskin Robbins Logo
"31" has long been a sacred number for Baskin Robbins. While older logos explicitly showcased it, the current one has it hidden in a way that many people don't even notice it.

• 1953 – 1980
  It was only in 1953 that they opted for uniform brand identity – the advice received from the local advertising firm Carson-Roberts, which later became part of Ogilvy & Mather. The agency also created the slogan "31 flavors," which is supposed to represent a flavor each day, and the earliest Baskin Robbins logo. The logo consisted of a light minty green round background with stitching around the border. The pink number "31" took the main place in the logo. "Baskin-Robins" was printed above it and “Ice Cream” below. Both inscriptions used the same font and had a very dark blue color, just like the shadow behind the number. The logo had a very welcoming and friendly appearance.
• 1980 – 1990
  The pink color is associated with something happy, sweet, and playful. Thus, it is not surprising that the company chose it as the main color for the round base. The latter now held only the number "31" which was done in white and had a brown shadow and outline. The name was placed underneath, while the "Ice Cream" part was removed altogether. The company used the same font that featured high-contrast strokes. The use of the same font, number, and round element made the logo very recognizable.
• 1991 – 2006
  The second emblem, which was adopted in 1991, preserved the number "31" as its core but merged it more effectively with the wordmark by placing the words "Baskin" and "Robbins" to the left and to the right from the number respectively. Also, the color scheme now included only two colors, pink and blue.
• 2006 – 2020
  The new logo was introduced as part of an entire brand refresh. While a flavor for each day of the month used to be an impressive offer in the 1950s, it can hardly surprise anyone today. Interestingly enough, the company has introduced over 1,000 flavors since 1945. And yet, the ice cream chain decided to preserve the iconic number as part of its identity. So, the authors of the logo still placed the figures "3" and "1" at the center of the emblem, but made them less prominent – in fact, you can hardly notice them unless you know where to look. Just pay attention at the pink parts of the letters "B" and "R" and you'll see "31."
• 2020 – 2022
  The 2020 version is just marginally different from the predecessor. Namely, they made the color scheme more saturated and slightly darker.
• 2022 – Today
  The redesign of 2022 is a tribute to the original Baskin Robbins logo, created in 1947. The chocolate and pink color palette of the initial badge was slightly deepened and strengthened, and the style was modernized, but you still can see the resemblance between the two emblems. The rethought badge of the band today features a bold and elegant "BR" monogram in brown, with the internal parts colored pink and looking like the "31". On the sides of the monogram the full logotype is set in brown capitals of a modern yet simple sans-serif typeface, "Baskin" on the left, and "Robbins" - on the right.

https://1000logos.net/baskin-robbins-logo/

Our History
Follow the history of Baskin-Robbins with our timeline below. You explore our corporate history, as well as discover a sampling of the creative and innovative ice cream flavors we created since 1945

Nearly three-quarters of a century ago, two brothers-in-law shared a dream to create an innovative ice cream store that would be a neighborhood gathering place for families. Burton "Burt" Baskin and Irvine "Irv" Robbins had a mutual love of old-fashioned ice cream and the desire to provide customers a variety of flavors made with ingredients of the highest quality in a fun, inviting atmosphere.

As a teen, Irv worked in his father ice cream store. During World War II, Burt was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy and produced ice cream for his fellow troops. When the war was over, the two entrepreneurs were eager to capitalize on America love of ice cream.

They started out in separate ventures at the advice of Irv father. In 1945, Irv opened Snowbird Ice Cream in Glendale, California. His store featured 21 flavors and emphasized high-quality ice cream sold in a fun, personalized atmosphere. A year later, Burt opened Burton Ice Cream Shop in Pasadena, CA. By 1948, they had six stores between them. This concept eventually grew into Baskin-Robbins.

As the number of stores grew, Burt and Irv recognized that to maintain the high standards they set in the beginning, each store would require a manager who had an ownership interest in its overall operation. Even though they didn't realize it at the time, the two founders had pioneered the concept of franchising in the ice cream industry.

In 1949, there were more than 40 stores in Southern California when Burt and Irv purchased their first dairy in Burbank. This business decision allowed them to have complete control over the production of their ice cream, and the development of new ingredients and flavors.

It wasn until 1953 that the ice cream chain dropped the separate identities of Snowbird and Burton and became Baskin-Robbins. A local advertising agency, Carson/Roberts, advised a uniform identity and image under the name Baskin-Robbins 31 Ice Cream. Their recommendations included the “31” logo to represent a flavor for every day of the month, Cherry (pink) and Chocolate (brown) polka dots to be reminiscent of clowns, carnivals and fun and lastly, the use of cartoons to bring their flavors alive with personality to graphically highlight the name and delicious ingredients. With this over-arching branding, Baskin-Robbins' iconic pink spoons were created with the belief that people should be able to try any of their many flavors without cost.

In 1954, Baskin-Robbins put their product on the line against their competitors at the Los Angeles County Fair. That year they won their first Gold Medal and set the pattern for county and state fair participation, earning Gold Medals for Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream every year since that first contest.

Irv RobbinsNot everyone likes all our flavors, but each flavor is someone favorite.

Baskin-Robbins continued to expand, and by the mid-1960s, the company had become an ice cream empire with more than 400 stores throughout the United States. In the 1970s the chain went international, opening stores in Japan, Saudi Arabia, Korea and Australia.

The franchise model created by Burt and Irv decades ago is still used by Baskin-Robbins today. We are 100% franchised, with each owner holding a stake in the business' success, while product development and merchandising are handled at Baskin-Robbins headquarters. This hands-on, small business approach allows franchisees the ability to create a strong presence in local communities all over the world. Through this franchise business model, we continue to provide innovative, high-quality ice cream treats to more than 150 million customers worldwide. And as a result, Baskin-Robbins has grown to become the world largest chain of ice cream specialty stores, with more than 2,800 locations throughout the United States and 5,800 around the globe.

Since 1945, we introduced more than 1,000 unique, fun and delicious ice cream flavors. Our original top-selling flavors like Mint Chocolate Chip and Pralines 'n Cream continue to delight millions worldwide. Still, we continue to consistently introduce new, exciting flavor combinations, as well as ice cream industry-leading innovations such as hand-packed ice cream quarts, a unique flavor ribbon technique, the use of traditional dessert ingredients and the introduction of mousse-textured ice creams. From our introduction of signature ice cream cakes and the growing line of beverages, including our signature Cappuccino Blast, our commitment to creating new and exciting products is unsurpassed in the industry. It all part of our mission to make the Baskin-Robbins neighborhood a tasty, fun place for our customers.

https://baskinrobbins.pk/our-history/

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Thirty-One Flavors and Then Some:
A Short History of Baskin-Robbins

PBS SoCalBaskin-Robbins
Today, Baskin-Robbins is nearly ubiquitous, with ice cream shops found everywhere from Canada to Colombia, the United Kingdom to Korea. Yet, the roots of this globally dominant brand run deep in suburban Los Angeles, where it was founded by two brothers-in-law in the years following World War II. Together, they did more than popularize quirky flavors like Jamoca Almond Fudge (coffee ice cream with roasted almonds and a chocolate ribbon); they created a brand that became synonymous with ice cream.

Irvine Robbins was born in Canada to parents who emigrated from Poland and Russia. They later moved to Tacoma, Washington, where Robbins' father was a partner at a local dairy. It was at that dairy that Robbins caught the ice cream bug. He started selling the cold treats on site, giving them fun names to help boost sales. After World War II, Robbins ended up in Southern California, where he opened the first of his own ice cream shops, called Snowbird, in Glendale.

Meanwhile, Robbins had convinced his sister's husband, Burton Baskin, to sell ice cream as well. Baskin was from Illinois and his background was actually in apparel retail, but he proved to be good at the ice cream game. Baskin opened his own shop in Pasadena. Soon, the brothers-in-law each had multiple ice cream stores, which they merged by the end of the 1940s. When their bounty of shops proved to be too much for two people, they sold them to the managers, essentially starting what would become the Baskin-Robbins business model of franchising shops.

There were two big advantages of that franchise model. The most obvious is that it allowed the Baskin-Robbins brand to spread far and wide. In 1959, an Arizona shop became the first Baskin-Robbins to exist outside of California. By the latter half of the 1960s, there were more than 600 shops across the country. A 1974 Los Angeles Times article notes that, in the previous year, there was one new Baskin-Robbins shop opening every other day, ultimately creating jobs in more than 600 towns. When the company celebrated its 31st anniversary - a momentous event that generated its fair share of newspaper ink - Baskin-Robbins had expanded through Europe and in Japan as well...

https://www.pbssocal.org/food-living/thirty-one-flavors-and-then-some-a-short-history-of-baskin-robbins

Baskin-Robbins Originally Snowbird Ice Cream
1130 South Adams St, Glendale, 1948

Until I came across this photo, I didn't know that Baskin-Robbins started out as Snowbird Ice Cream. Actually, Irv Robbin's ice cream parlor was called Snowbird before he merged with Burt Baskin's Burton's Ice Cream Shop.

This photo was taken in 1948 at the Glendale, California store, where their ice-cream empire first started. I can't help wondering what that guy standing in front of the truck would say if we could tell him that "Baskin-Robbins" would become an internationally known name with over 7500 stores.

The building still exists

https://martinturnbull.com/2018/06/04/baskin-robbins-originally-snowbird-ice-cream-1130-south-adams-st-glendale-1948-2/

Baskin-Robbins

WIKIPEDIABaskin-Robbins
American multinational chain of ice cream and cake specialty shops owned by Inspire Brands. Baskin-Robbins was founded in 1945 by Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins in Glendale, California. Its headquarters are in Canton, Massachusetts, and shared with sibling brand Dunkin' Donuts. It is the world's largest chain of ice cream specialty stores, with more than 8,000 locations.

The company is known for its "31 flavors" slogan, with the idea that a customer could have a different flavor every day of any month. The logo includes a stylized "31" formed from the letters "B" and "R". The slogan came from the Carson-Roberts advertising agency (which later merged into Ogilvy & Mather) in 1953. The company has introduced more than 1,300 flavors since 1945, including the addition of vegan and non-dairy flavors in 2019.

• Baskin-Robbins was founded in 1945 by American brothers-in-law Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins from the merging of their respective ice cream parlors, in Glendale, California. Burt Baskin learned about ice cream while he was in the military during World War II and opened Burton's Ice Cream Shop in California in 1946. Irv Robbins managed an ice cream counter in his father's store as a teenager and in 1945 used $6,000 to open Snowbird Ice Cream in California.
• In 1948, they decided to combine their companies and call it Baskin-Robbins. Snowbird Ice Cream offered 21 flavors; when they merged the number of flavors was expanded to 31. By 1948, Baskin and Robbins had opened six stores. The first franchise was executed on May 20, 1948, for the store at 1130 South Adams in Glendale (Store #1).
• In 1949, the company's production facility opened in Burbank.
• Baskin and Robbins decided to start selling the stores to the managers.
• In 1953, Baskin-Robbins hired Carson-Roberts Advertising who recommended the adoption of the number 31 as well as the pink (cherry) and brown (chocolate) polka dots and typeface that were reminiscent of the circus. The first store that adopted the new 31 looks was 804 North Glendale Ave. in Glendale in March 1953.
• Between 1949 and 1962, the corporate firm was known as Huntington Ice Cream Company. The name succeeded The Baskin-Robbins Partnership and was eventually changed back to Baskin-Robbins, Inc. on November 26, 1962. Baskin-Robbins was owned by its founders until it was acquired in 1967 (just before Burt Baskin's death) by United Fruit.
• In the 1970s, the chain went international, opening stores in Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Australia.
• In 1972, the company went public when United Brands sold 17% in an IPO. A year later, the British food company J. Lyons and Co. purchased Baskin-Robbins from United Brands and all public stock. J. Lyons then merged with Allied Breweries, becoming Allied-Lyons in 1978. Allied-Lyons then merged with Pedro Domecq S.A. in 1994, becoming Allied Domecq. Baskin-Robbins and Dunkin' Donuts comprise Dunkin' Brands, Inc. Dunkin' Brands was part of Allied Domecq until its purchase in 2006 by a group of private equity firms – Bain Capital, Thomas H. Lee Partners, and The Carlyle Group.
• In 2006, the company's "BR" logo was updated such that it doubles as the number "31" to represent the 31 flavors, with the "31" formed by the parts of the letters "BR" which are rendered in pink, in contrast to the rest of the logo which is rendered in blue.
• In August 2012, Dunkin' Brands became completely independent of the private equity firms.
• Baskin-Robbins struggled in the early years of the 2000s to retain business, but opened 36 new shops between 2013 and 2015. Many new Baskin-Robbins shops are co-branded with Dunkin' Donuts, including California's first co-branded location of the two in San Diego, which opened in March 2014.
• In 2014, Baskin-Robbins also began selling its ice cream for the first time in supermarkets across the U.S.
• In July 2017, Baskin-Robbins started adding their locations to delivery service platform DoorDash to deliver ice cream in 22 cities across the United States.
• In December 2020, Dunkin' Brands was purchased by Inspire Brands.
• Baskin-Robbins debuted an updated logo, alongside the new tagline "Seize the Yay", on April 11, 2022.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baskin-Robbins