Ice Cream
- Americone Dream
- Butter Pecan
- Butterscotch'd
- Cherry Garcia
- Chocolate
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
- Chocolate Fudge Brownie
- Chocolate PB Chunk
- Chocolate Therapy
- Chunky Monkey
- Churray for Churros!
- Coconut Seven Layer Bar
- Coffee, Coffee BuzzBuzzBuzz
- Dirt Cake
- Gimme S'more!
- Half Baked
- Impretzively Fudged
- Lights! Caramel! Action!
- Mango
- Marshmallow Sky
- Milk & Cookies
- Mint Chocolate Chunk
- New York Super Fudge Chunk
- Oatmeal Dream Pie
- PB S'more
- Phish Food
- Salted Caramel Blondie
- Strawberry
- Strawberry Cheesecake
- Sweet Cream & Cookies
- The Tonight Dough Starring Jimmy Fallon
- Triple Caramel Chunk
- Vanilla
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
- Colin Kaepernick’s Change the Whirled
- Strawberry Marshmallow
- Strawberry Cheezecake
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
- Lemonade
- Berry Berry Extraordinary
- Salted Caramel Blondie
- Marshmallow Sky
- Half Baked
Euphorically edible tribute to guitarist Jerry Garcia & Grateful Dead fans everywhere, it’s the first ice cream named for a rock legend and the most famous of our fan-suggested flavors.
- Cherry Ice Cream with Cherries & Fudge Flakes
To create a flavor as fun as the name, we monkeyed around with bunches of test batches until we knew we had a winner: the nuttiest chocolatey-chunkiest concoction-gone-bananas you'll ever go ape for.
- Banana Ice Cream with Fudge Chunks & Walnuts
- Chocolate & Vanilla Ice Creams mixed with Gobs of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough & Fudge Brownies
- Chocolate Ice Cream with Gooey Marshmallow Swirls, Caramel Swirls & Fudge Fish
Ben was our neighbor through the woods & we're fond of ice cream. So we teamed up to create Phish Food. A portion of our royalties from this flavor goes toward environmental efforts in Vermont's Lake Champlain Watershed. Enjoy!
-PHISH
- Caramel & Chocolate Ice Creams with Chocolate Cookie Swirls & Gobs of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough & Peanut Butter Cookie Dough.
About UsBen & Jerry'sThrough The Decades:
From a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont, to far-off places with names we sometimes mispronounce, the journey that began in 1978 with 2 guys and the ice cream business they built is as legendary as the ice cream is euphoric.
BEN & JERRY'S: Timeline 1978 Humble Beginnings
With a $5 correspondence course in ice cream-making from Penn State and a $12,000 investment ($4,000 of it borrowed), Ben and Jerry open their first ice cream scoop shop in a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont.1979 Next Step...
Ben and Jerry celebrate the shop's one-year anniversary – and the customers who made it possible – by holding the first-ever Free Cone Day: free scoops for all, all day long. The annual ice cream give-away continues today in scoop shops around the world.1980 Supply & Demand
Ben and Jerry rent space in an old spool and bobbin mill on South Champlain Street in Burlington and begin packing their ice cream in pints. The reason? To distribute to grocery and Mom & Pop stores along the restaurant delivery routes Ben services out of the back of his old VW Squareback wagon.1981 We Want More!
As the news of Ben & Jerry's spreads, more & more people want a lick. So the first franchised scoop shop opens in Shelburne, Vermont.1982 Pack It Up!
The old gas station is demolished to create a parking lot. Just before the wrecking ball is swung, the new Ben & Jerry's on Cherry Street in Burlington is up & scooping.1983 Now That's What I Call a Sundae
Ben & Jerry's ice cream is used to build "the world's largest ice cream sundae" in St. Albans, Vermont; the sundae weighs 27,102 pounds.1984 Get a Scoop of the Action
Ben & Jerry's sets a precedent by discovering a little-known clause about stocks and brokering, then establish a Vermont-only public stock offering to raise money for a new manufacturing plant.1985 The Heart of the Matter
The Ben & Jerry's Foundation is established with a gift from Ben and Jerry & 7.5% of the company's annual pre-tax profits to fund community-oriented projects.1986 "Like the world's largest baked Alaska"
Ben & Jerry's launches the Cowmobile, a modified mobile home used to distribute free scoops in a unique, cross-country "marketing drive." On the return trip, the Cowmobile burns to the ground outside of Cleveland, Ohio (no one was hurt). Ben said it looked "like the world's largest Baked Alaska."1987 Very Grateful
Ben & Jerry's introduces Cherry Garcia ice cream. Named for Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia at the suggestion of two "DeadHeads" from Portland, Maine, Cherry Garcia becomes the first ice cream named for a rock legend.1988 Hail From the Chief
Ben and Jerry are named “U.S. Small Business Persons of the Year” by President Reagan in a White House Rose Garden ceremony. Jerry's one suit comes in handy and, luckily, Ben finds an Italian waiter's jacket to wear.1989 Artificial Growth Hormone? Not in Our Ice Cream!
Ben & Jerry's comes out against Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH), based on concern about its adverse economic impact on family farming and public confidence in the wholesomeness of dairy products.1990 Contented Cows Make the Best Ice Cream
Eight million Ben & Jerry's pints carry a "Support Farm Aid" message as part of the grassroots efforts of Farm Aid, a non-profit organization whose mission is to keep family farmers on their land.1991 A Pint-Sized Legend is Born
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough is released in pints after years of research and development. The flavor rockets to the top of the most-popular-in-pints list. Today it still reigns among our all-time flavor hits. (The first-ever batch of the flavor was created in Ben & Jerry's Burlington scoop shop in 1984, the result of an anonymous note scribbled on the shop's suggestion board).1992 Take a Stand for Children
Ben & Jerry's joins in a cooperative campaign with the national non-profit, Children's Defense Fund; the campaign goal is to bring children's basic needs to the top of the national agenda. Over 70,000 postcards are sent to Congress concerning kids and other national issues.1993 "The 90's are the 60's Standing on Your Head"
Wavy Gravy leads the pack of new flavors. It's named after the famous 1960's Woodstock Festival personality who is today a one-man non-profit helping kids.1994 Greetings, Your Majesty
Pints of Ben & Jerry's ice cream begin to appear in the United Kingdom.1995 www.benjerry.com
Hundreds of thousands of cyber-surfers visit the Ben & Jerry's World Wide Web site for virtual licks & voluminous laughs.1996 No Fat, No Lactose, No Cholesterol
Ben & Jerry's introduces Sorbets made with pure spring water & the best fruits & flavorings. Doonesberry Sorbet is named after the popular "Doonesbury" comic strip character. It has since been sent to the Flavor Graveyard, but other sorbets live on in Scoop Shops.1997 Phish Food For People
The great music & renowned concert tours of the Vermont-based musical group, Phish, inspire Phish Food ice cream.1998 Happy Birthday with a Whole New Look
Some folks thought our packages were hard to read (& the flavors hard to resist), so after 20 years we dressed up our pints with a fresh new look!1999 The Flying Friesian
In the U.K., Ben & Jerry's launches the Flying Friesian, a raucous tour bus retrofitted for fun, with a focus on fundraising for U.K. kids-in-need network, Childline.2000 Big Changes
August 3, 2000: Ben & Jerry's becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Unilever. Through a unique acquisition agreement, an independent Board of Directors is created to provide leadership focused on preserving and expanding Ben & Jerry's social mission, brand integrity, and product quality. We call them the B.O.D. (Which means we really like them.)2001 We're Making A Movie
Citizen Cool is a documentary about ordinary folks making an impact in their communities. We celebrate this new release with a flavor inspired by movie treats, Concession Obsession.2002 One Sweet Whirled
It's an ice cream flavor...it's an environmental action website...it's One Sweet Whirled and it's all interconnected, as Ben & Jerry's partners with Dave Matthews Band & SaveOurEnvironment.org in a campaign to help fight global warming.2003 Celebrating 25 Years
Ben & Jerry's kicks off the year with a birthday bash at our factory in Waterbury, Vermont at the first-ever Winter Fest. Still crazy after 25 years.2004 Rock the Vote!
In an effort to drive voter turnout among young people in the US, Ben & Jerry's partners with Rock the Vote. RTV street teams leverage the long lines of customers on Free Cone Day to register over 11,000 voters - the biggest one-day grassroots registration in Rock the Vote's history.2005 Drilling is Not the ANsWer
To protest proposed oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, we construct a 900-pound Baked Alaska with our Fossil Fuel ice cream, shoulder it onto the US Capital lawn and serve it up with the help of Greenpeace and the Alaska Wilderness League.2006 Fair Trade Upgrade
Ben & Jerry's continues to support fair trade efforts which started with Coffee and the launch of Coffee Coffee BuzzBuzzBuzz in 1996 by adding Vanilla and Chocolate to the line-up. Fairtrade certification guarantees that the farmers who grow the vanilla, cocoa and coffee beans get a fair price for their harvest, enabling them to reinvest in their land and communities.2007 Truth or Clone-sequences
When the U.S. Food & Drug Administration declared that it believed meat and milk from cloned animals was safe to eat, we were beside ourselves, twice over! To show our disappointment with the FDA's decision – and to urge Americans to speak out against cloning – we sent a determined herd of cow-costumed folks to Washington, D.C. for a "Truth or Clone-sequences" demonstration.2008 The Batch is Back
We introduce Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road in recognition of Elton John's first concert in Vermont.2009 Do the World a Flavor
We hold an international “Do the World a Flavor” contest encouraging people to share their ideas for a Fairtrade flavor. Top contestants visit the Dominican Republic, tour a cocoa co-op, and build a playground for children in the village of Yabon. The winning flavor, Almond Delight, is featured in scoop shops across the US as a Limited Batch in 2010.2010 Fair Trade Commitment
Ben & Jerry's makes a significant commitment to source Fairtrade ingredients and to support the global Fairtrade movement. We're in the process of converting our ingredients to Fairtrade globally where we feel we can have the greatest impact on improving the lives of farmers, strengthening their communities and protecting the environment.2011 Occupy!
When protestors in New York City and other places take to the streets under the Occupy Wall Street banner in the fall of 2011 to rally against increasing economic inequality in the United States, high unemployment, mortgage fraud, and too much corporate influence in American politics, Ben & Jerry's Board of Directors issues a direct statement of solidarity, and we show up in Zucotti Park on several occasions to scoop ice cream for Occupiers.2012 It's Greekin' Good!
Ben & Jerry's gets creative with real Greek yogurt, introducing an epic selection of Greek Frozen Yogurt flavors that are uniquely creamy, boldly loaded with chunks and swirls, and really Greekin' good!2013 GMO? Thanks, but No.
As the campaign to label food products made with GMO ingredients moves across the states, including Vermont, Ben & Jerry's is proud to stand with the growing consumer movement for transparency and the right to know what's in our food supply by supporting mandatory GMO labeling legislation. In 2013, we also commit to transitioning all of our ingredients to be fully sourced non-GMO.2014 Fans Make Non-Dairy Demands!
Our fans have spoken and want a Non-Dairy option, they even went as far as starting a Change.org petition.2015 Another Flavor for Fallon...The Tonight Dough!
The concoction is caramel and chocolate ice creams with chocolate cookie swirls & gobs of chocolate chip cookie dough & peanut butter cookie dough. If the flavor becomes half as popular as the unflappable Fallon, who was dubbed “entertainer of the year,” it may give Ben & Jerry's other classic combinations a run for their money.2016 You Dared Us to Go Dairyless - and We Did!
Our Non-Dairy flavor creations are made with almond milk, 100% Certified Vegan, and boldly loaded with chunks and swirls. You'll get Ben & Jerry's euphoria in every bite. These flavors deliver everything... but the cow. The first Non-Dairy flavors in our line up were: Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Chunky Monkey, Coffee Caramel Fudge and P.B. & Cookies.2017 IT'S BEN & JERRY'S, ANY WAY YOU SLICE IT
Pint Slices, inspired by the very best part of the pint, give fans a way to enjoy euphoric flavors, chunks and swirls in a round single serving that's enrobed in a decadent chocolatey coating. It's a to-go order of ice cream goodness that's easy to take on the road, and hard to resist.2018 Together, Pecan Resist!
Alongside all those nutty chunks, this pint packs a powerful message under its lid. Together, we can build a more just and equitable tomrrow.2019 Justice ReMix'd
Ben & Jerry's flavor & action campaign supporting reforms that invest in people instead of prisons to deliver justice for all, instead of just for some.2021 Change is Brewing!
Ben & Jerry's launches Change is Brewing as part of our ongoing work to advance racial justice, calling for the nation to divest from a broken criminal legal system and invest in services that help communities thrive.
- Fair Partnership
Through our partnerships, we strive to create economic opportunities for those who have been denied them. - Social Mission
To operate the Company in a way that actively recognizes the central role that business plays in society by initiating innovative ways to improve the quality of life locally, nationally and internationally. - Product Mission
To make, distribute, and sell the finest quality ice cream and euphoric concoctions with a continued commitment to incorporating wholesome, natural ingredients, and promoting business practices that respect the Earth and the Environment. - Economic Mission
To operate the Company on a sustainable financial basis of profitable growth, increasing value for our stakeholders, and expanding opportunities for development and career growth for our employees. - Eco Footprint
We strive to minimize our negative impact on the environment, from cow to cone. Balance is everything.
Ben & Jerry'sActivism
We believe that ice cream can change the world. We have a progressive, nonpartisan social mission that seeks to meet human needs and eliminate injustices in our local, national, and international communities by integrating these concerns in our day-to-day business activities.
- Thoughtful Ingredients
Our ingredients support positive change and make our ice cream taste sensational!- Shared Success
We aim to create prosperity for everyone that's connected to our business.- Making a Difference
We build awareness and support for the activism causes we feel strongly about.
Ben & Jerry'sOur Values
We love making ice cream-but using our business to make the world a better place gives our work its meaning. Guided by our Core Values, we seek in all we do, at every level of our business, to advance human rights and dignity, support social and economic justice for historically marginalized communities, and protect and restore the Earth's natural systems. In other words: we use ice cream to change the world.
- Human Rights & Dignity
We are committed to honoring the rights of all people to live with liberty, security, self-esteem, and freedom of expression and protest, and to have the opportunity to provide for their own needs and contribute to society.- Social & Economic Justice
We are committed to achieving equity, opportunity, and justice for communities across the globe that have been historically marginalized, recognizing that this is tied to fair livelihoods that enable individuals, families, and communities to thrive.- Environmental Protection, Restoration, & Regeneration
We are committed to a positive, life-giving environmental impact that restores degraded natural environments and enables increased diversity and abundance of ecosystems.
Ben & Jerry'sOur Mission
Ben & Jerry's is founded on and dedicated to a sustainable corporate concept of linked prosperity. Central to the Mission of Ben & Jerry's is the belief that all three parts of its mission must thrive equally in a manner that commands deep respect for individuals inside and outside the Company and supports the communities of which they are a part.
- Our Product Mission drives us to make fantastic ice cream-for its own sake.
To make, distribute, and sell the finest-quality ice cream and euphoric concoctions with a continued commitment to incorporating wholesome, natural ingredients and promoting business practices that respect the Earth and the Environment.- Our Economic Mission asks us to manage our Company for sustainable financial growth.
To operate the Company on a sustainable financial basis of profitable growth, increasing value for our stakeholders, and expanding opportunities for development and career growth for our employees.- Our Social Mission compels us to use our Company in innovative ways to make the world a better place.
To operate the Company in a way that actively recognizes the central role that business plays in society by initiating innovative ways to improve the quality of life locally, nationally, and internationally.We love making ice cream - but using our business to make the world a better place gives our work its meaning
Fair Trade is about making sure people get their fair share of the pie.
The whole concept of Fair Trade goes to the heart of our values & the sense of right & wrong.
Nobody wants to buy something that was made by exploiting somebody else.
Ben & Jerry's
WIKIPEDIABen & Jerry's Homemade Holdings Inc.
American company that manufactures ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sorbet. Founded in 1978 in Burlington, Vermont, the company went from a single ice cream parlor to a multinational brand over the course of a few decades. The company was sold in 2000 to the multinational conglomerate Unilever but operates as an independent subsidiary. Its present-day headquarters is in South Burlington, Vermont, with its factory in Waterbury, Vermont.Ben & Jerry's is known for their original flavors, many of which incorporate foods and desserts mixed with ice cream. Some of these flavors have been themed after musicians, comedians, and public figures, such as Jerry Garcia, Stephen Colbert, Colin Kaepernick, and Phish. The company and its two founders have also been noted for their political activism and advocacy for social justice. This includes the way their products have been manufactured, marketed, and distributed.
1978
Ben & Jerry's opens its first ice cream shopHistory.comMay 5, 1978
Area residents line up outside a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont, for the grand opening of Ben & Jerry's Homemade. Opened by childhood friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, the store sells soups, crepes and pottery, but it is their homemade ice cream, made with locally sourced cream and butterfat and flavorful chunks of nuts, cookies, fruit and candy, that become the main attraction.Ben & Jerry's ice cream would go on to become a worldwide phenomenon, expanding the market for super premium ice cream made with natural ingredients and extra butterfat. Haagen-Dazs had already carved out a significant niche in this market, but Ben & Jerry's brought renewed attention, attracting customers with its folksy image, fun mix of ingredients and imaginative flavor names like Chubby Hubby, Cherry Garcia and Wavy Gravy.
The ice cream's origins can be traced back to a seventh-grade gym class in Merrick, Long Island in 1963, where Cohen and Greenfield became fast friends. By the time they were in their 20s, they were brainstorming business ideas. After scrapping a plan to open a bagel shop (the equipment was too expensive), Cohen and Greenfield decided to take a $5 correspondence course on ice cream making at the Pennsylvania State University's Creamery. They then each invested $4,000 and took out a bank loan for another $4,000 to open the Burlington store.
Less than two years later, the duo started selling pints of ice cream in grocery stores. While many of the original flavors have not survived (retired flavors are buried in the Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard), many new ones followed, including Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough in 1984, the company's most popular flavor worldwide.
Ben & Jerry's Is Turning 40
Here's How They Captured a Trend That Changed American Ice CreamTime2018
Forty years ago, when Ben & Jerry's opened for their first day on May 5, 1978, the ice cream scene in the United States didn't look quite like it does today.In fact, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, who had grown up together on Long Island, N.Y., were at the forefront of a superpremium ice cream trend that was still small but gaining steam. And, though they seemed to have stumbled onto ice cream by accident, their timing was remarkable. In the years that followed, they and their fellows would change the taste of American ice cream.
The market for superpremium ice cream - which often uses natural ingredients, has less air churned in (making the ice cream more dense) and has higher butterfat content - was at the time led by Haagen-Dazs, which was already a leader in the field, having started in 1961 and opened their first scoop shop in 1976.
Cohen and Greenfield initially weren't planning to become major leaders in superpremium ice cream. But Cohen wasn't having much luck selling his pottery and Greenfield had been rejected by medical schools, so they agreed to open some kind of store together. They incorporated their business in 1977, initially thinking of opening a bagel shop. When the machinery costs for bagels were too high, they instead invested in a $5 course in ice cream making at Penn State (famously attended by ice cream makers of all sizes). With $4,000 from each - including help from Cohen's father, who paid half his share - and another $4,000 from a bank loan, they got to work converting a gas station in Burlington to suit their needs.
Both were 27 years old when they opened in May 1978, at the start of the summer season. But, because Vermont isn't always weather-suited to frozen dessert shops, Ben also made crepes, soups and other food while Jerry was in charge of the ice cream. In 1979 they dropped the other food-the ice cream was a success, the crepes not so much.
From the start they were focused on intensely flavored, chunky and creative ice creams, because, as Cohen told the New York Times in 1994
BEN COHENI've never had a very good sense of smell, and if you don't have that, you don't have a good sense of taste. When we began, the game was for Jerry to make a flavor I could taste with my eyes closed. To do that he had to make ice creams that were intensely flavored.Expanding from their scoop shop to wholesale deliveries in 1979, the pair quickly brought their frosty wares to the northeast and soon enough across the U.S.
36 years ago today, we started serving ice cream out of a renovated gas station in Burlington. http://benjerrys.co/36years
@benandjerrys
Ben & Jerry's
Joy for the belly and soul since 1978.UnileverBen & Jerry's
The first ice cream company to use Fairtrade-certified ingredients. It positions itself as unconventional and quirky, with its fun,flavour names, and it has strong sustainability credentials. The Ben & Jerry's,story began in 1978, when school friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield opened,their first scoop shop in a renovated Vermont gas station. The brand was acquired by Unilever in 2000. It is available in 33 countries around the globe.Ben & Jerry's, a wholly-owned autonomous subsidiary of Unilever, operates its business on a three-part mission statement emphasizing product quality, economic reward and a commitment to the community.
It all began in junior high gym class in Merrick, Long Island. Two boys, running around the athletic field, had found a common bond. Ben Cohen & Jerry Greenfield hated running, but they loved food.
In 1978 they decided to go into business together. With diplomas from a $5 correspondence course & their life savings ($8,000), they converted an old abandoned gas station in Burlington, Vermont, into the original Ben & Jerry's & started making Vermont's Finest ice cream.
They used only fresh Vermont cream & milk, & the best & biggest chunks of nuts, fruits, candies & cookies. It wasn't long before the lines for ice cream stretched out the door, & that was only the beginning. You see, Ben & Jerry wanted to run a business that would share its rewards with its employees & with the community.
Ben & Jerry's products are now available across the country, in stores & in our franchised scoop shops. Internationally you will find Ben & Jerry's in much of Europe, Asia as well as Israel, Canada, Mexico and in the Caribbean.
Commitment to quality - for 34 years
Ben & Jerry's is founded on and dedicated to a sustainable corporate concept of linked prosperity. Our mission consists of three interrelated parts: Product Mission, Economic Mission and Social Mission. Central To The Mission Of Ben & Jerry's is the belief that all three parts must thrive equally in a manner that commands deep respect for individuals in and outside the company and supports the communities of which they are a part.Product mission
To make, distribute and sell the finest quality all natural ice cream and euphoric concoctions with a continued commitment to incorporating nutritious, natural ingredients and promoting business practices that respect the Earth and the Environment.Economic mission
To operate the Company on a sustainable financial basis of profitable growth, increasing value for our stakeholders and expanding opportunities for development and career growth for our employees.Social mission
To operate the company in a way that actively recognizes the central role that business plays in society by initiating innovative ways to improve the quality of life locally, nationally and internationally.Leading with progressive values across our business
We have a progressive, nonpartisan social mission that seeks to meet human needs and eliminate injustices in our local, national and international communities by integrating these concerns into our day-to-day business activities. Our focus is on children and families, the environment and sustainable agriculture on family farms.
- Capitalism and the wealth it produces do not create opportunity for everyone equally. We recognize that the gap between the rich and the poor is wider than at any time since the 1920's. We strive to create economic opportunities for those who have been denied them and to advance new models of economic justice that are sustainable and replicable.
- By definition, the manufacturing of products creates waste. We strive to minimize our negative impact on the environment.
- The growing of food is overly reliant on the use of toxic chemicals and other methods that are unsustainable. We support sustainable and safe methods of food production that reduce environmental degradation, maintain the productivity of the land over time, and support the economic viability of family farms and rural communities.
- We seek and support nonviolent ways to achieve peace and justice. We believe government resources are more productively used in meeting human needs than in building and maintaining weapons systems.
- We strive to show a deep respect for human beings inside and outside our company and for the communities in which they live.
The History Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream
LiveAbout2019
Ice cream is a sweet treat that few can resist. Although vanilla is the most popular flavor in the U.S., there is a seemingly endless number of varieties and manufacturers. One of the best-known purveyors is Ben & Jerry's, the brand synonymous with funky flavors like Cherry Garcia and Chunky Monkey as well as a groovy Vermont vibe.Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield were childhood friends born four days apart in 1951 in Brooklyn, New York. You could say that ice cream runs in their veins. During his senior year of high school, Ben drove an ice cream truck. After high school, he attended and dropped out of various colleges in the Northeast, eventually leaving his studies altogether to teach pottery on a working farm in New York's Adirondack region, where he also dabbled in ice cream-making.
Jerry started on a more traditional path. After graduating high school, he attended Oberlin College to study medicine, working as an ice cream scooper in the school's cafeteria. Upon graduating, he returned to New York to work as a lab technician, while applying to medical school without success. During his lab tech days, he shared a Manhattan apartment with Ben. After moving to North Carolina for a few years, Jerry reunited with Ben in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and they decided to go into the food business together.
At first, the pair thought about making bagels but decided the necessary equipment was too expensive. Instead, they settled on ice cream. They decided Burlington, Vt., was an ideal location for a scoop shop because it was a college town without an ice cream parlor. They took a $5 course on ice-cream making and in 1978 opened the first Ben & Jerry's in a converted Burlington gas station.
The original scoop shop became a community favorite thanks to its rich ice cream and creative flavors. Ben and Jerry also made it a point to connect with the community, hosting a free film festival and giving away free scoops on the first anniversary of the store, a tradition that still continues. In 1980, the duo began making pints to sell to local grocers. In 1981 they expanded the operation, opening the first franchise store in Shelburne, VT.
In 1983, the company opened its first non-Vermont franchise in Maine and signed a deal with a Boston distribution company. Signature flavors were unveiled throughout the 1980s-including New York Super Fudge Chunk and Cherry Garcia-and by 1987, sales were at $32 million. By year's end 1988, with the company operating shops in 18 states, Ben and Jerry earned the distinctive award of U.S. Small Business Persons of the Year from President Ronald Reagan.
LiveAboutCreative Flavors
One reason for the quick popularity of Ben & Jerry's was its unique flavor combinations. All new flavors were invented by Jerry, usually without any test marketing. Some 1980s flagship flavors include Chunky Monkey, Rainforest Crunch, and Economic Crunch, scoops of which Ben & Jerry's served up for free on Wall Street following the stock market crash of Oct. 19, 1987.
- Vanilla Ice Cream with Fudge-Covered Waffle Cone Pieces & a Caramel Swirl
- Mocha & Caramel Ice Creams with Chocolate Cookies, Fudge Flakes & a Chocolate Cookie Core
- Chocolate & Vanilla Ice Creams with Fudge Brownies & a Brownie Batter Core
- Chocolate & Banana Ice Creams with Mini Peanut Butter Cups
- Vanilla Malt Ice Cream with Peanutty Fudge-Covered Pretzels with Fudge & Peanut Buttery Swirls
- Toasted Marshmallow Ice Cream with Chocolate Cookie Swirls, Graham Cracker Swirls & Fudge Flakes
- Chocolate & Caramel Ice Creams with Fudge Chips & a Soft Caramel Core
- Chocolate Ice Cream with White & Dark Fudge Chunks, Pecans, Walnuts & Fudge-Covered Almonds
- Vanilla Ice Cream with Salted Caramel Swirls ＆ Fudge Brownies Topped with Caramel Cups ＆ Chocolatey Ganache
Ben & Jerry'sHappy Birthday To Us!
May 5th marked Ben & Jerry's 42nd birthday, and while we'd like to celebrate by eating 42 pints of ice cream, our bellies would probably prefer that we find another way to show our excitement. So, we thought we'd dig up 42 weird, random, totally unnecessary fun facts about Ben & Jerry's to share. Maybe have a spoonful of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough for each one, in our honor.
- Ben & Jerry's was originally going to be a bagel company, but Ben and Jerry found the bagel-making equipment to be too pricey. Their plan was to deliver bagels, lox, cream cheese, and the New York Times on Sunday mornings.
- Jerry was the first CEO of the company, so we made it up to Ben by putting his name first in "Ben & Jerry's".
- Each employee gets 3 pints of delicious Ben & Jerry's goodness a day.
- Dastardly Mash (1979-1991) was the only flavor ever to contain raisins.
- We have a graveyard(Opens in new window) where we bury our discontinued flavors. There are over 300 flavors that have been sent to the graveyard.
- Founders Ben Cohen & Jerry Greenfield met in 7th grade gym class in Long Island in 1963. They were the two slowest kids in class.
- Ben and Jerry moved to Vermont and completed a $5 correspondence course in ice cream-making from Penn State University. They got a perfect score because the test was open book.
- The first flavor ever created by Ben and Jerry was Vanilla. Gasp!
- There is a tree house and a slide in the Ben & Jerry's offices – both are used often.
- We created Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough after a fan anonymously suggested it at our first Scoop Shop. It's since become an ice cream legend.
- All of the meeting rooms at Ben & Jerry's headquarters are named after ice cream flavors.
- Ben & Jerry's has two hot air balloons that they break out on special occasions. One is shaped like a Cherry Garcia ice cream cone and is almost 100 ft. high.
- The summer after their freshman year of college, Ben Cohen drove an ice cream truck, and
- The first Ben & Jerry's location in Vermont was a renovated gas station, where they shared space with a local farmer who sold produce.
- Ben wanted to call the business "Josephine's Flying Machine", but Jerry didn't like it.
- The first pints were Oreo Mint, French Vanilla, Chocolate Fudge, Wild Blueberry, Mocha Walnut, Maple Walnut, Honey Coffee and Honey Orange.
- Unfortunately, none of the original 8 flavors have survived.
- There's a Scoop Shop that sits on stilts in Bannister's Wharf, Newport, RI
- Canada was the first country outside the US to celebrate Free Cone Day
- Ben & Jerry's headquarters are dog friendly, and many employees bring their pups to work.
- Worldwide, our most popular flavor is Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.
- Jerry used to drop boxes of toffee from the top of a ladder to break them up to use in
- In 1986, Ben and Jerry got into their "Cowmobile" and drove across the United States, handing out free Ben & Jerry's. Sadly, it burned to the ground on the way home. Ben said it looked like a giant Baked Alaska!
- Last year, PETA gave Ben & Jerry's their annual Proggy award in recognition of the new vegan Non-Dairy line.
- Each waffle cone has an average of 259 little squares. Why so many? The textured surface holds more ice cream than a smooth surface.
- When Ben & Jerry's first started, we sold soup, crepes, and pottery alongside the now-famous ice cream.
- Bourbon Pecan Pie can only be found in the state of Texas. Road trip?
- The machinery we use to create our Cores flavors is based on a German sausage maker.
- Including ice cream, light ice cream, low fat ice cream, no sugar added ice cream, Carb Karma, Greek and regular frozen yogurt, there have been 43 flavors with 'Vanilla' in the name.
- We have Flavor Labs at our Waterbury, VT factory and at the Scoop Shop in Tokyo, Japan, where we create wild new flavors every week.
- Chocolate Therapy and Oatmeal Cookie Chunk are the only Limited Batches we've ever made into full-time flavors.
- Speaking of Oatmeal Cookie Chunk, we're pretty sure it's our most-missed flavor. Maybe.
- The first Free Cone Day was in 1979 and was the founders' way of thanking their customers for helping them get through their first year.
- The cow you see on Ben & Jerry's packages is named Woody, after Woody Jackson, the artist who designed her in 1983.
- We were the first ice cream company in the world to make Cores, pints of ice cream with a thick core of something euphorically awesome (like caramel or brownie batter) in the middle.
- Since the late 1980's, we've gotten all our delicious, fudgy brownie chunks from Greyston Bakery, a social mission-led bakery in Yonkers, NY that employs folks who have faced barriers to employment.
- 100% of the profits from Greyston Bakery benefit the Yonkers, NY community, and we are proud to be a part of it.
- These days we hand out around 1 million free scoops of ice cream each Free Cone Day. Whoa!
- In 2017, we launched our new US Scoop Shop cereal milk ice cream flavors by putting a giant cereal bowl in the middle of Grand Central Station in New York City! People were PUMPED.
- Co-founder Ben Cohen has no sense of smell, a condition called anosmia. This is the reason our flavours are so packed with flavor and CHUNKS! More chunks and swirls made it more satisfying for Ben.
- There is one ingredient you'll never find in our flavors: Bacon. While It's one of the most requested ingredients from our fans, our flavors are Kosher Certified.
- Our Dough Chunks line is created from the actual chunks in our flavors, which means if Dough Chunks are available near you, then you can skip digging them out of your favorite flavor.
Ben & Jerry's Logo
- 1978 – 1979
Originally crafted to epitomize the art of ice cream creation, Ben & Jerry's emblem harkened back to its founders' roots as free-spirited music aficionados. The emblem encased within an elliptical border featured a whimsical grand piano. Atop this piano's raised lid, a cavalcade of ice cream seemed to burst forth, while a ticker of receipts unfurled along the instrument's sides, symbolic of the melodious blend of commerce and creativity.As keys were pressed, akin to notes in a symphony, out would pop the selected frozen treat, be it a luscious popsicle or a sumptuous serving of creme brulee. Atop the piano, trio mounds of ice cream lavished with a cornucopia of fruits and nuts, all cloaked in a rich chocolate cascade, showcased the wealth of gustatory delights available.
- 1979 – 1980s
The label swiftly became a sensation, drawing crowds eager for a scoop of their unique blends. The entrepreneurs, buoyed by their venture's warm reception, doubled down on their dream. To commemorate their ascent, they instituted an annual tradition: Free Cone Day. Every anniversary, the store would offer their scoops on the house, a gesture that became a hallmark of their gratitude and community spirit.As the brand's renown grew, the visual identity was streamlined to its essence. The vibrant imagery gave way to a sleek, more minimalist emblem. Now, the mere mention of “Ben & Jerry's” conjured the full spectrum of their offering; the logo's overhaul was a nod to their evolved status – a brand so iconic, it stood unaided.
Yet, whimsy wasn't wholly forsaken. Infusing a dash of playfulness into their moniker's typographic elegance, they introduced a lively twist: the colorful "&." Its striations were a nod to their heritage – a red summit fading to a sunny yellow, cascading into a cool blue base, echoing the indulgent journey from the first creamy taste to the refreshing finish.
This reinvented "&" took on a dual semblance – at once, a steaming cup signaling warmth and comfort, and alternatively, a bowl brimming with velvety ice cream accompanied by a spoon, beckoning one to a cozy corner where treats and refreshments abound. It was more than a symbol; it was an invitation to a realm of delectable desserts and convivial moments.
- 1990s – 1998
The scale of ice cream craftmanship underwent a remarkable transformation, witnessing the birth of franchise locations and the facility for nationwide distribution, now encased in signature round containers. These vessels bore the imprint of a vinyl disc emblem, a homage to retro classics with a jet-black backdrop circumscribed by the founders' portrait and encased by a halo of white script proclaiming, "Ice Cream by Ben & Jerry's."This emblem celebrated the human touch, narrowing the gap between consumer and creator. It was a testament to the dedication and personal investment of the founders, instilling confidence and warmth with their approachable smiles, thus fostering trust and underlining the company's amicable ethos.
Echoing a classical aesthetic, the monochrome design was a subtle tribute to enduring excellence and the brand's commitment to timeless principles. In tandem with their culinary ventures, the pair championed eco-conscious initiatives, opposed genetically modified milk hormones, and advocated for children's welfare. This evolution transcended the culinary arena, positioning Ben & Jerry's not just as purveyors of delightful treats but as vanguards for societal and environmental stewardship.
- 1998 – Today
Marking two decades of crafting frozen delights, the company embarked on a transformative rebranding journey. The quintessential pint packages received a fresh design, and the brand's insignia experienced a metamorphosis.The reimagined logo features the company's moniker emblazoned in a stark white typeface, cradled within an ebony crescent, edged with a vibrant sunflower hue. This emblematic curve is redolent of the very containers that safeguard the delectable contents, symbolizing the shelter and care the company extends to its entire line of produce.
An azure illustration of a bovine often accompanies the design, a nod to the brand's commitment to the welfare of dairy herds and the sustenance of pastoral farm legacies.
A mere two years post this milestone, the founders relinquished their helm of the business. Post-sale, the enterprise's trajectory plateaued, lingering in the legacy of its established reputation and halting further brand evolution.
Ben: I've never had a very good sense of smell, and if you don't have that, you don't have a good sense of taste. When we began, the game was for Jerry to make a flavor I could taste with my eyes closed. To do that he had to make ice creams that were intensely flavored.
